Anger as £45,000 copper is stolen in Smethwick

Copper worth £45,000 has been stolen from the site of a Black Country school undergoing rebuilding work in separate raids.

Metal worth £40,000 destined for an electricity sub station was stolen from Holly Lodge High School in Holly Lane, Smethwick, which today revealed it had been targeted by thieves before.

Noel Corbally, project manager for the scheme said: "We came on to site to find 164ft of copper cabling gone. This was in five separate lengths waiting to be installed at the new substation at the school.

"This theft happened on August 23, but in the previous week Ruskin House - a pupil referral unit on the Holly Lodge site - had between £5,000- £6,000 of copper piping stolen. It is difficult for me to put into words how I feel about these people, it is despicable."

Under the plans, original buildings at Holly Lodge will remain but have been remodelled, with a new gym and sports science centre - including state-of-the-art fitness centres and a new administration block.

There will also a be a new dining area at the school, which is set to be re-named Smethwick Learning Campus.