Thieves who thought they were snatching valuable railway memorabilia have in fact been landed with little more than scrap.

The enamel signs stolen from stations along the Keighley and Worth Valley line were reproductions, not authentic railway memorabilia, volunteers have revealed.

Only one sign, a "waiting room" plaque at Damems, the smallest station in the country, was original.

The rest were enamel reproductions replacing the originals at least 15 to 20 years ago.

Jim Shipley, a volunteer on the five-mile line, said authentic signs, especially the BR hotdog shaped totems, were worth thousands of pounds.

But the haul - taken over a three-month period - was of scrap value only.

Mr Shipley said: "One of our roles is to preserve railway heritage for the future so things of real value are either kept safe or they are well and truly fixed in position.

"The things stolen were worth very little although, of course, we have to pay several hundred pounds to replace them."

And the replacements would not be made of exactly the same materials and contain some plastic.

It was ironic as Damems station would never have had a BR name totem because it was closed just before the railways were nationalised in the late 1940s, he added.

In the days when the railway was run by the former LMS - London, Midland, Scottish company- it would have had a wooden sign.

Damens was given a BR style sign because the railway is preserved in an image of the 1950s.

The thieves, who struck at the station on Monday, December 11, at 3.20pm and stole a station totem, doorplates and enamel poster headers, were caught on CCTV.

A police spokesman said: "Two men were filmed unscrewing signs from the station platform and taking them away.

"It is thought they could also be behind a series of thefts of signs from other stations on the historic line."

Keighley signs were also stolen from Keighley Station, Station Bridge, some time between Monday, December 11, and Saturday, December 16.

Overnight on Saturday, November 25, and Sunday, November 26, two Haworth totems were taken from the platform at Haworth station.

And on Tuesday, October 24, two enamelled signs - "Gentlemen" and "Private" - were taken from doors at Ingrow station.

Haworth Assistant Stationmaster Tim Moody said the signs were not original, but some people, especially those using e.bay, could be duped into thinking they were valuable and pay out substantial sums.

Keighley CID would like to hear from anyone who recognises the men or who saw anything suspicious at any of the stations around the times the thefts have occurred, or anyone who has been offered the signs for sale.

Anyone with information should contact Detective Constable Jackie Doherty at Keighley CID on (01535) 617059 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

e-mail:clive.white@bradford.newsquest.co.uk