Rails in £1m metal raids

MORE than £1 million of metal has been stolen from Scotland’s railways within the last three years.

Figures obtained from British Transport Police revealed more than 300 incidents of metal theft between April 2008 and October last year.

More than £250,000 worth was taken in just two hauls.

Among the biggest hauls was one of more than £30,000 worth of metal from Bathgate.

A British Transport Police spokesman said: “During our regular days of action, scrap metal dealers are visited and vehicles are stopped and searched at checkpoints.”