ONE of the Moorlands biggest tourist attractions faces a threat to its future after scrap metal thieves caused damage estimated at more than £40,000.

Churnet Valley Railway, based at Froghall and Cheddleton, has been raided five times in the past month.

Now management fear the heritage railway, which attracts 62,000 visitors a year, may be forced to shut.

In the latest attack thieves used power tools to cut through heavy duty padlocks before tearing copper wiring and parts from two diesel locomotives awaiting restoration.

They also stole signalling equipment, ripped brass handles off carriages and tore up 100 metres of cable along the track.

Operating director Greg Wilson said: "Repeated thefts like these are hitting us hard.

"We are reaching the stage where we don't know how long we can carry on."

Mr Wilson estimates the scrap metal taken in the thefts would be worth no more than £1,000. However, the cost of replacing and repairing the equipment will be many times that amount.

Mr Wilson said: "The cost of repairing the four damaged coaches and replacing the signalling equipment – if we can afford the parts – could be around £10,000.

"For the diesel locomotives, it could cost as much as £30,000 to put right the damage. In fact, we may have to scrap one of them. It's particularly poignant because one of the locos was the very last to haul passengers along up the line to Cauldon Lowe for a special event in the 1990s. Now it's wrecked for the sake of a few pounds worth of copper."

CCTV installed at Bolton's Copper Works near the Froghall site – where the latest attack on Friday happened – has stopped even more thefts taking place.

Mr Wilson added: "These aren't opportunist crimes. The thieves are coming equipped to cut through our security measures and then break into containers or dig up cables."

Frank Dale volunteer train driver, said: "Ninety per cent of our labour is voluntary and it could take us years to put some of these things right."

Mr Wilson is now asking local residents to contact the police immediately if they see anything suspicious.

Two years ago the CVR installed security cameras at Cheddleton and Froghall stations costing £2,000 to stop thieves stealing train parts.

Thefts of scrap metal – including copper piping and aluminium – have increased so much that police have set up a dedicated team to investigate the problem.

Inspector Neil Sherratt, of Cheadle Police, said: "We are treating the incident as a priority."

Despite the thefts, Churnet Valley Railway plans to maintain its regular services between Froghall, Cheddleton station and Leekbrook

Anyone with information is asked to call Cheadle police on 0300 123 4455 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.