Horwich residents have been left flabbergasted after expensive flagstones from several paths were stolen.

Multiple thefts have been reported across streets bordering Chorley New Road, including Winter Hey Lane and Crown Lane.

Charlotte Blackburn had her path stolen at about 10pm on Wednesday February 12.

She said: “We only noticed them missing the next day when my partner came home from work.

“I park in the garage so I leave through a different entrance out the back and he walks through the front so he saw it first.

“Our next door neighbour has CCTV cameras so we asked her to see the footage and watched them take it.

“I’ve logged it with the police but they have just given me a crime reference number and said there wasn’t enough evidence to do anything further."

Another resident, who lives in Crown Lane, reported that a neighbour had seen someone using a crowbar to lift her flagstones, but the culprit ran off when they realised they were being watched.

On Tuesday, February 18, she discovered her stones had been taken and reported the incident to the police.

Both thefts have been recorded by Greater Manchester Police as incidents of criminal damage.

The paths were made from York stone, a material that costs between £40 to £65 per square metre.

There has been a series of similar thefts recently, with people in Mary Street West, and Anderton all reporting stolen flagstones.

Similar incidents have been reported in Horwich in previous years.

Missing flagstones have also been reported recently in other areas of Greater Manchester.

Anyone with information about the crime should contact the police on 101, quoting incident 1414 of February 14, or 507 of February 18.

Alternatively, the independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted, anonymously, 800 555 111, or via their online form at crimestoppers-uk.org.