Metal road signs worth £4,500 have been stolen from the A2 at Patrixbourne near Canterbury.

The 28 signs were stolen from the coastbound carriageway.

They had been bolted to the ground and had MTM pressed into the back of them or a sticker with Martins Traffic Management and a phone number.

PCSO Stephen Coulter said: "The theft of so many signs has the potential to cause confusion on the road and may even put people's lives at risk.

"It was a reckless thing to do without any thought for the possible consequences.

"In addition, the theft means a Kent business is now out of pocket.

"Whoever stole the signs risked their own life because they would have had to stop in the live lane.

"Coincidentally, someone reported a near miss and suspicious behaviour near the signs when somebody stopped in the live lane at about 5.30pm on the day they went missing."

The signs variously read: Work force in work; Work force in road slow; Arrow in 800 yards; Arrow 600 yards; Arrow 200 yards; Works access only 100 yards; Works traffic only; Slip road merge; Works exit and End of works traffic.

They were stolen between 2.20am and 7.20am on Friday.

Anyone with information can phone police on 101.