The data was uncovered and released by West Midlands MP Tom Watson who was this afternoon spearheading a parliamentary campaign to crack down on scrap metal theft after discovering it has cost councils and businesses across England and Wales millions of pounds.

Scrap metal thefts in Shropshire have cost the county’s councils tens of thousands of pounds in three years, figures reveal today.

Nine schools have been targeted and looted by thieves in the Telford & Wrekin area between 2007 and 2009 at a cost of £20,200. And  Ketley Parish Council’s building has been targeted twice within a year at a cost of £30,000, according to data released by Telford and Wrekin Council.

Shropshire County Council has on its files 13 incidents where premises have been targeted for lead by thieves at a cost of £9,445.

The data was uncovered and released by West Midlands MP Tom Watson who was this afternoon spearheading a parliamentary campaign to crack down on scrap metal theft after discovering it has cost councils and businesses across England and Wales millions of pounds.

Some 33 councils out of the 324 that responded to his freedom of information requests said metal thefts had cost them more than £100,000. Sandwell Council suffered the highest losses at £723,042 in insurance claims and repair costs alone – including £19,365 in just one month.

There were 1,873 reported incidents of schools being targeted across the country, the MP’s research revealed, plus 185 leisure centres, 156 community centres and some 71 cemeteries and crematoriums.

He highlighted the scale of metal thefts – and the cost to taxpayers – while initiating a Westminster Hall debate on the issue.

It follows a surge in metal thefts which have seen post boxes targeted, manhole covers stolen, and even the copper cable between temporary traffic lights taken and sold for cash.

In the last 18 months in the West Midlands alone here have been 52 cable thefts resulting in 1,500 train cancellations, plus delays.

Mr Watson, the West Bromwich East Labour MP,  warned his findings were “the tip of the iceberg” with some councils unable to disclose the full cost, or in some cases any data at all.

He said soaring commodity prices and the ineffectiveness of the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 1964 as a deterrent were exacerbating the problem.

“Whether it’s lead flashing from a school roof, copper from the side of a railway line or the theft of a drain gully, a day does not go by without a new case of metal theft being reported,” said Mr Watson.

By London reporter Sunita Patel