Rise in cooking oil thefts in Anglia region

First it was metal thefts, now our police forces are having to deal with a new crime - the theft of cooking oil.

There has been a surge in thefts across the Anglia region. Cooking oil, which is used to make biodiesel, is becoming increasingly valuable. 200 litres were stolen from one restaurant in Brandon in Suffolk.

It is believed as much as a fifth of the UK's biodiesel could come from illegal sources, costing the government £25 million a year in lost revenue.

Carrington Fuels in Wellingborough in Northamptonshire buys used oil from restaurants. Owner Paul Fraser says unregulated suppliers are taking his business.

In some parts of the country it is estimated that cooking oil theft has overtaken metal theft.

It's a trend being monitored by some of our region's police forces.