At least two reported break-ins at industrial estates in Leyland have led to police advising companies to be extra vigilant.

The rise in diesel prices has been blamed for the spate of fuel thefts, with the offenders breaking into secure compounds and syphoning off diesel from HGVs.

In the past two weeks the Moss Side Industrial Estate and Centurion Way Industrial Estate have both been targeted.

South Ribble crime reduction officer Pam Hodge said: "The warning is to companies on industrial estates to make sure they have security in place. There are a lot of transport companies based in Leyland and a couple have already been targeted.

"It is a desperate measure as a result of the increase in the price of diesel and we need to raise people's awareness.

"The offences have consisted of people breaking into the depots and actually getting into the HGVs and taking the fuel."

However John Crawshaw, managing director of the Farington Business Park, said his companies have yet to be affected.

He said: "We are taking the warnings on board, but touch wood it hasn't become a big problem here. All we can do is tell our lorry operators to be extra vigilant, especially at night and keep their vehicles out of sight.

"There's not much you can do to stop it, the diesel tanks on lorries can't be any more secure than they are."

Mick Snape, site maintenance engineer on Leyland Business park, which is also on Centurion Way, said: "We are not aware of any fuel thefts recently, but will certainly be making our tenants aware.

"We have Baxi and Leyland Trucks on our site and due to various little incidents over the past few years we are putting in CCTV all around the perimeter.

"Martin Ainscough, who owns the site, is spending £150,000 on it - and this is all down to similar petty crime as these diesel thefts."