A CACHE of new signs set to direct walkers through a major Chilterns walk have been stolen.

The 76 signs, worth more than £2,000, were the entire stock of the Chiltern Society. They were taken when its tools trailer was snatched just before Christmas from Ewelme in Oxfordshire.

The signs may not be replaced as the charity's insurance company might not pay out, it said.

They were to mark out a 172-mile Chiltern Way circular walk, to make its way through the Chilterns from near Hitchin in the north to Mapledurham and Goring in the south.

Team leader Peter Harden said: "It's a major blow. They have no scrap value for the thieves as they are made of heavy duty plastic so it's likely that they'll just be dumped in a ditch."

He added: "The trailer was less than two years old and contained a lot of our tools.

"Fortunately, I'd removed our expensive power tools for safety. We're hoping that the insurance will cover most of the loss."