LEADERS of a parish church are appealing for help after thieves stole lead from its roof, leaving them with a repair bill of up to £8,000.

Crooks struck at St Mary’s Church, on South Street, in West Rainton, near Durham, two weeks ago, tearing lead from the Grade II-listed Victorian building’s north and south sides.

Herbert Willis, a long-serving church warden, said: "It makes me feel quite sick."

Although the lead will only be worth about £200 as scrap, it is thought the damage will cost about £7,500 to repair - only £5,000 of which will be covered by insurance.

Church insurers are limiting claims after a surge in lead thefts in recent months.

Today’s St Mary’s Church was consecrated in 1864. It has a regular congregation of just 35 people but costs £26,000 a year to keep open, 15 per cent of which came from fund-raising activities.

The recent setback follows an incident a few years ago in which lead was stolen from its south side.

The church is already stretched financially, having drawn on its reserves to install a new £9,500 heating system earlier this year. Further heaters, costing £2,500, are due to be added in coming months.

Mr Willis said: "People are working hard to raise this money and then this happens. Its breaks your heart."

He hopes English Heritage will allow the church to install alternative materials to replace the stolen lead, to deter thieves.

But the repair work could be several months away.

Some church pews are covered in protective sheets and daylight can be seen through the roof.

Mr Willis appealed to anyone living in the village or with a past or present link to the church to help raise the money needed to pay for the latest repairs.

Fund-raising events are held regularly.

For more information, call Herbert Willis on 0191-5281331 or email: herbwillis@tiscali.co.uk Metal thefts now account for one in 12 crimes. A summit of church leaders and insurance companies was held recently to discuss the issue.

To report a crime, call Durham Constabulary on 0345-60-60-365.