FUNDS of more than £30,000 will allow repairs to begin on the roof of a Sedgefield church which was targeted by lead thieves.

St Edmund’s Church’s north transept was stripped of a large amount of lead in two raids between October and December last year.

A large sheet of lead was cut off the north transept along with an eight metre strip from the ridge.

And less than one week after it was discovered a further 16 square metres was found to be missing - leaving the entire east side of the roof exposed.

Reader Michael King confirmed this week that sufficient funds were now available to cover the estimated £30,000 cost of repairing the roof of the grade II-listed church and safeguarding its valuable 13th century timbers.

He welcomed the news, adding: “The roof has been made watertight and will withstand the winter weather.”

Donations by well-wishers of £10,067, an insurance payout of £10,000 and a single grant of £10,000 have made it possible to start work on replacing the lead with a stainless steel lookalike which the church team say is not as attractive to thieves.

Any surplus donations will be used to help redecorate the walls of the church which were badly stained by rainwater seeping through the timbered roof before the theft was discovered.

Church officials say they were extremely grateful to those who answered an appeal for donations to carry out the repair. A spokesperson said: “ They have clearly demonstrated how much they value St Edmund’s”.