DRUNKEN thieves are being blamed for a spate of thefts which police say are putting lives at risk.

Dozens of flashing blue strobe lights have been stolen from road accident sites around the Bolton area in the last two years, putting motorists at risk of further crashes.

Sgt Ray Riley of the Road Policing Unit, based at Leigh, said between 50 and 100 lights had been stolen in the Bolton area since they started using them two years ago. "They're going missing late at night when people might be coming back from the pub and may have had a drink or two," he said.

"It's inconvenient for us but the biggest worry is that there's nothing to indicate to oncoming cars that there's an obstruction in the road.

"They're quite expensive and it hampers our work. There have been occasions where people have had to slow down quickly at accidents because they haven't seen there is a danger."

Each police patrol car carries 10 of the flashing lights - worth around £20 each - and officers use them to alert road users to crashes.

Sgt Riley fears that they may have become trophies for late night revellers' bedrooms.

Anyone who has stolen the lights is being urged to come forward.

Sgt Riley said any culprits could hand the lights in at their local police station with no questions asked.

"If any parents spot these in their son's room we would like to know," he said. "If people want to return them to their nearest police station we would be very happy to have them back.

"But if we catch anybody with them they will be facing charges of theft."