METAL theft costs electricity customers in the North West up to £2million a year, it has been revealed.

Electricity North West, which owns and operates the regin’s local power grid, said it has seen a 40-fold increase in thefts over the past 10 years.

Hyndburn MP Graham Jones has called on the Government to bring in stronger deterrants and punishments.

Speaking to energy minister, Charles Hendry in Parliament, he said: “There is a human consequence to all these thefts.

“I visited Electricity North West and was told by staff that there is daily worry about people’s safety as a result of metal theft.

"There is danger to those illegally entering substations and a danger to staff undertaking routine maintenance.

“The electricity and gas industry network companies can only do so much to address the problem.

"It is clear that current legislation is not fit for purpose.

“There is overwhelming evidence that the government need to focus on the supply chain, and to reclassify criminal deterrents so that the sentence fits the crime.”

Mr Hendry said the government were determined to address the issue and recognised it was not a victimless crime.

Electricity North West asset manager Eddie Hamilton said: “Metal theft is a huge issue for our region and the rest of the country.

“We invest hundreds of thousands of pounds protecting our network from crime but more needs to be done to tackle the supply chain, ensuring that these thieves have nowhere to sell stolen metal.

“I’m pleased that this issue has been raised in Parliament and hope that more can be done to protect our infrastructure and customers.”