Man arrested over stonewall slab thefts

Police said they were alerted by the community

Police investigating a spate of thefts of slabs from rural stone walls have arrested a man for the alleged offences.

Lancashire Police's south rural task force said officers arrested a Wigan man in connection with the thefts from the Rufford area following a tip-off.

The force said: "A substantial quantity of stolen stone was recovered from the suspect's property and will be returned to its rightful owners.

"The individual has been released on bail pending further investigation.."

Police say the stones were found at the suspect's property

A spokesman said: "This arrest and subsequent property search were carried out promptly upon receiving community intelligence.

"We continue to encourage the public to report any suspicious activity without delay, enabling us to respond quickly and effectively.

"We would like to extend our sincere thanks to those in the community who assisted... your support was invaluable."