VILLAGES in the North York Moors National Park are being "wiped off the map", as thieves steal metal boundary markings and village signs.

National park officials have reported the growing trend to police, as a series of circular markers bearing Ralph's Cross, the park's symbol, have gone missing in recent weeks.

Old-style metal village signs with their characteristic glass studding have also disappeared, representing a significant loss to the local heritage within the National Park.

Richard Gunton, head of park services, said: "This is a very worrying trend.

"We suspect these signs are being removed either for their meagre scrap value or for pointless vandalism.

"There is a high cost to replacing the lost signs and many villages will be faced with having to find the money themselves it seems."

Mr Gunton said it was possible funds could be available through the village improvement grant scheme to replace signs.

But he urged anyone seeing local signs for sale or being offered for scrap to contact the police or the national park authority immediately.

Village and neighbourhood watch schemes, rangers and volunteers were keeping a close eye on the remaining signs, he said.

"We hope everyone will help us clamp down on this before more of our valuable roadside heritage is lost in the national park," he said.

Updated: 10:55 Wednesday, April 09, 2003