LEAD worth about £3,000 was stolen from the roof of a Kidderminster church.

The lead was taken from the roof of St Mary and All Saints Church, in Churchfields between 10pm on Saturday and 7.30am on Sunday.

PC Niki Deakin, who is investigating, said: “The thieves would have needed a ladder to get up on to the roof and as this was taken from the side of the church facing St Mary’s Ringway it’s possible someone may have seen something as they drove or walked past, or else noticed a vehicle. If so then please pick up the phone and call us.

“The roof was treated with anti-climb paint and therefore the thieves may have got this on their hands or what they were wearing.

"If you noticed anyone with such oily stains on them or their clothing on Sunday then, again, we would like to hear from you.”

PC Deakin added that following a previous theft the church had treated all its roof lead with an indelible forensic coding solution used for property marking.

It means the lead can be identified as stolen if it comes to the attention of police officers, who will be able to trace it back to the church.

Witnesses or anyone with information about the theft should call PC Deakin at Kidderminster Police Station on 0300 333 3000, quoting incident reference 200-S-040410 or ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.