A cone amnesty has been launched by police after the disappearance of two-thirds of Southampton's traffic cones.

Drunken revellers and students are believed to have taken most of the cones and are being asked to return them before the start of the football season.

Southampton's Hulse Road station once had 500 no-waiting cones, marked with "Hampshire Constabulary", but the numbers have dwindled to just 150.

The cones, costing �4.15 each, are used to mark roads outside football matches and other major events in the city.

'Stray' cones

Sergeant Roger Timmins said: "If anybody has a cone at home or finds any stray ones marked Hampshire Constabulary, if they could take the time to pop them back to be reunited with the surviving ones we would be very grateful.

"We urgently need them for the new football ground, so all stragglers will be welcome."

Residents, who had cones delivered by police which have not been collected, are also asked to return them.