A Norfolk detective has today described how a campaign to stop roof raiders from destroying our sacred church heritage is 'working' but has called on the public 'not to take their foot off the accelerator'.

The EDP together with sister paper the East Anglian Daily Times (EADT) has announced a £26,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those who target churches in Norfolk and Suffolk.

Since the reward was announced at the end of last year, Det Con Andy Brown, Norfolk police's metal theft co-ordinator, said there has been an increase in calls to police about suspicious activity.

He said: 'My opinion is that the campaign is working and I think more people have thought to themselves we better just ring about something.

'We mustn't take our foot off the accelerator and just need to keep up the momentum. If we can just get a vehicle at a theft scene that will just take us so far forward in any inquiry.'

Det Con Brown was speaking after a man has appeared in court charged with Norfolk church lead thefts.

Marian Cristian Nitu, 22, appeared at Norwich Magistrates' Court charged with two lead thefts, and another count of theft.

The charges relate to the theft of about £20,000 of lead from St Peter's Church in Guestwick in September 2014 and between £20,000 and £25,000 of lead from All Saints' Church Thwaite, in October 2015.

He has also been charged in connection with the theft of donations of cash to All Saints' Church between October and November 2015.

The defendant, who is from Pretoria Road, Birmingham, appeared at Norwich Magistrates' Court last week via videolink.

There was no indication of plea and the case was formally sent to Norwich Crown Court on February 26.

Meanwhile, in Suffolk, church leaders at St Mary's Church, Combs, have been left 'staggered and delighted' after children helped raise £746.52 after the church was targeted by roof raiders in August last year.

The theft of around six tonnes of lead, which resulted in more than £150,000 of damage, prompted pupils at Combs Ford Community Primary School to hold a number of fundraising events, including a carol service.

The Rev Chris Childs, said: 'I think we can say the church community is staggered and delighted to receive such a large sum of money from the primary school, some of whom attend the church and were baptised there.'