FIFTY police officers mounted a major crackdown to disrupt the illegal trade in stolen metals across Oxfordshire today.

Dozens of truck drivers carrying car batteries, air conditioning ducts and scrap metal, were pulled over by Thames Valley Police and British Transport Police during stop-checks in Milton and Bloxham, north Oxfordshire.

Officers also searched nearby scrapyard Smiths, of Milton Road, Bloxham, where they confiscated 80kgs of copper cable, thought to be used on railway lines, estimated at £600.

No one from Smiths was arrested or wanted to comment.

This evening, police were trawling through paperwork taken from the scrapyard and the names of drivers spoken to at stop-checks.

Det Sgt Gavin Collier, of Cherwell police priority crime team, said: "It will take some time for our officers to go through this paper trail, but I expect we will be making a number of arrests as a result."

Over the past 12 months, there have been at least 2,000 reports of metal thefts in Oxfordshire, ranging from old cars, lead from church roofs and wrought iron garden fencing.

Today's operation, which ran between 8.30am and noon, was one of the largest in the region.

Police believe there has been a steady rise in copper and lead theft due to the price of scrap metal on the black market increasing fourfold in the past year.

The operation focused on people selling stolen metal, not the scrapyard itself.

Supt Howard Stone, Cherwell area commander, said: "The message is clear - you cannot steal metal and sell metal here."

Thames Valley Police officers and transport police were joined by customs and excise officers, Cherwell District Council and the Environment Agency.

Automatic numberplate recognition cameras were used and 40 cars and flatbed trucks were pulled over.

Ten drivers were given fixed penalty notices for breaching waste carrier licences, one man was arrested for driving offences and a vehicle was seized.

Police said they would mount similar operations in future.