A POLICE helicopter was ordered to patrol the skies over the M6 yesterday after metal thieves caused delays for hundreds of thousands of motorists.

A cable theft knocked out vital CCTV cameras and signs and signals between junction 10 for Walsall and 10A for Wolverhampton and the M54.

As a result, the hard shoulder – which is opened up during busy periods to ease the flow of traffic – remained closed yesterday and congestion problems are expected to continue tomorrow.