PEOPLE are being asked to be on their guard after thousands of pounds of roofing tiles were taken from town centre businesses.

The council offices in Boroughgate, the Dales Veterinary Centre in Cattlemarket Street and the Bridge Street medical practice were all targeted in the raid that happened close to New Year's Day.

The veterinary surgery was forced to close one of its consulting rooms and Leeds City Council faces an emergency repair bill.

Now police at Weetwood are urging people to report anyone seen removing roof tiles - even if they appear to be proper workmen.

Staff at the Otley One Stop Centre, in Boroughgate, were said to be shocked and dismayed to discover a section of Yorkshire stone roofing tiles had been stolen - leaving the centre in need of urgent repair work.

The centre, which provides a point of contact between various Leeds City Council departments and the community, now faces a £3,500 bill to fix the roof.

The thieves also stole roofing tiles from the nearby Dales Veterinary Surgery late on New Year's Day or in the early hours of January 2. The surgery was forced to close one of its consulting rooms while the roof was being repaired.

And more than £2,000 of roof tiles were taken from the Bridge Street medical practice.

A council spokeswoman said: "These tiles are very valuable and, indeed, rare. We would urge anyone who knows anything about the stolen tiles to contact the police immediately."

In addition to the Otley thefts, £300 worth of tiles were taken from the roof of two barns at The Old Nunnery on Harewood Road, Arthington, between December 30 and January 3.

Detective Inspector Steve O'Callaghan of Weetwood Police said: "If anyone sees someone removing stone, they should make a note of the vehicle registration number, even if it looks completely innocent, and ring us. It is always better to make sure they are bona fide.

Many thieves are loading up their vans in broad daylight and no-one questions them because they think they are workmen, when often they are not."

Anyone with information on the thefts, or who has been offered roofing tiles for sale' should contact Weetwood Police on (0113) 241 3459.