A Suffolk pub landlady has described 'ruthless thieves' repeatedly stealing used cooking oil from her business, costing her valuable credit on supplier bills. Polly Durant, who runs the Ufford Crown near Woodbridge, said about 100 litres have been taken from outside the pub over the past year.

The used oil is normally collected by a supplier, earning the pub between £40 and £60 in credit each time. However, there have been several occasions when collectors arrived to find the storage bin empty. In one incident, thieves also spilled oil, leaving visible damage to the property.

Durant believes the stolen oil may be converted into diesel and fears thefts could increase due to rising oil prices linked to the conflict in the Middle East. She has provided camera footage to police, but the images have not been clear enough to identify those responsible. She said the losses and damage are especially upsetting at a time when the pub industry is already struggling.