The University Hospital Llandough, in Penarth, south Wales was forced to delay 81 operations after thieves snatched copper cabling from the unit near Cardiff.

The thieves left vital back-up generator out of order after they stole copper cabling from it. Health chief condemned the theft as ‘absolutely disgraceful’. The generator could require as much as £20,000 to repair while the stolen wire could be only worth about a few hundred pounds as scrap.

Local health board chief executive Jan Williams said: "NHS staff work tirelessly to care for some of the most vulnerable members of our communities. It is depressing that, for these thieves, the monetary value of copper is of more consequence."

She said that the cancellation of the operations has brought suffering to the patients including eight cancer patients. A new generator is being tested and the hospital is aiming to begin normal operations soon. The hospital deals with several non-emergency surgery. Surgery is expected to resume as normal on Thursday.

The police has launched a major crackdown on the growing number of metal thieves from various places like railways, churches and others.