Police are today hunting raiders who stripped lead from a village church which has been targeted for the second time in a matter of months.
Leaders at St Mary's Church in Newton Flotman have been left reeling after lead was taken from the chancel roof and the church extension roof in a theft which is thought to have happened overnight on Tuesday.
The raid, which was only discovered after a dog walker noticed damage to the roof, is the second time the church has been preyed upon by criminals, following an attempted theft in May when would-be thieves tried but failed to take lead from the church roof, causing significant damage.
Christopher Gaze, parochial church council member, said the latest incident has come at the worst possible time as they had just paid for repairs to be carried out following the previous attempted theft.
He said: 'It's deeply upsetting.
'Our problem is we had some repairs that we had to do which stopped us putting in a roof alarm at the time and now we will have to spend the money for a roof alarm to replace the lead.
'We don't have any money and I don't know where we will find the money from.'
Builders are currently working at the church and Mr Gaze said he thinks raiders have taken the opportunity to use items at the scene to assist them. He said: 'I think they've used a ladder to get up on the chancel roof.' He also believes a large van was used in the incident as tyre tracks can be seen leading up to the church.
Police have confirmed they are investigating the incident and Mr Gaze has urged anyone with information relating to the theft to contact police.
As part of our Stop The Roof Raiders campaign, the EDP and its sister paper, the East Anglian Daily Times, are offering a substantial reward of at least £26,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for targeting churches in the region.
As previously reported, criminals tried to lever lead off the roof in an attempted theft in May but found it was firmly secured.
The church was also targeted five years ago, and in response wardens cut down hedges so the church building was more visible to neighbours.
Anyone with any information about the incident should call police on 101.
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