Swimming pools and play areas are among the latest Oxford leisure facilities to be targeted by scrap metal thieves.

Council bosses have hit out at raiders who removed lead flashing from pipes at Temple Cowley Swimming Pools on Friday Pools manager David Evans said: "I'm disappointed someone has stolen all the lead flashing metal from pipes and overflow ducts from the roof.

"We have informed the police of this matter and we estimate it will cost Oxford City Council about £2,500 to replace it.

"We are aware there has been a spate of these crimes across the city and the parks team have also suffered problems with a stainless steel slide stolen from Barns Road play area and alluminium rockers stolen from Cholsey Close play area and Cuddesdon Way play area."

The latest thefts come hot on the heels of a raid on a row of garages in Poplar Close, Kidlington.

Fifteen of the garages were stripped of lead flashings earlier this month.

Police are taking the issue of scrap metal theft seriously and have appointed an officer to focus on the problem.

They said there had been 200 similar metal raids on homes, churches, pubs and village halls across Oxfordshire this year.

It is understood the price of metal has gone up, and organised gangs across the country are targeting properties to sell it on to the scrap metal trade.