Rail theft no light matter

A man has admitted stealing 171 tonnes of railway track at Acton Turnville, near Yate and Chipping Sodbury. He pleaded guilty at Bristol Crown Court.

Unsurprisingly police said he could have caused a "serious rail crash".

According to the BBC the track had already been removed and put next to the line for a renovation project. A crane was used to load it onto five lorries which took it to scrap metal merchants in Newport.

Hat-tip to Teletext West News for this item.