SALT thieves who are taking supplies from public bins to use on their own drives and paths have been blasted.

Reports filtered through to Hertfordshire County Council last week that salt was being pinched as the cold weather started to bite.

It led Cllr Stuart Pile, executive member for highways and transport, to urge residents to only use salt in public areas.

He said: “Salt from salt bins can be used for salting and clearing snow from the pavement outside your property or business but should not be used for salting private driveways, footpaths, forecourts or other areas that are not part of the public highway.

“Salt bins are placed for public use at known trouble spots on the highway, and theft from these bins may compromise the safety of others as well as being a criminal offence.”

He added: “We report incidents to the police, but without evidence of who is taking the salt it’s extremely difficult to prosecute anyone for this.”