Villagers in Shipley think someone has been stealing their water and spiriting it away in dawn raids.

Officials believe gallons of the local supply have been surreptitiously syphoned from a hydrant into a road tanker.

Yorkshire Water has launched an investigation after residents complained about disruption to supplies.

The problem, in the Nab Wood area, is believed to have been caused by someone tapping into the mains without permission, says a councillor.

Water bosses have enlisted the help of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency in Swansea in an attempt to track down a vehicle which is thought to be linked to the problem.

A spokesman for Yorkshire Water said: "All businesses which require water in the street - such as street cleaners - need to hold a valid standpipe licence to take water without disrupting supplies to nearby premises.

"The licence ensures that only standpipes of the correct size can be used.

"We are aware of the issue in the Nab Wood area and have been making investigations to trace the person responsible for reducing the water supply to customers.

"We are currently awaiting details of the vehicle from the DVLA to help us in our investigations.

"We would like to assure customers in the area that we are doing everything possible to trace this vehicle."

Councillor Martin Love (Green, Shipley) said: "People have approached me to tell me about the problem, which was a bit of a mystery for a while.

"A lot of residents in Nab Wood found their water pressure was dropping every morning. It was happening at 7.30am every day.

"There is a theory someone with a tanker has been taking water from a hydrant.

"It went on for quite a few days and nobody was sure where the problem was coming from.

"I think it caused a quite a lot of disruption to people in that area. I have spoken to Yorkshire Water and they say they are onto it."

Yorkshire Water said no problems had been reported in Nab Wood in recent days.

It is believed the vehicle might have left the area and could now be operating elsewhere.