Washout at Mirfield church after lead thefts

Rainwater poured into the north side of St Paul’s Church, Eastthorpe, this week after thieves made of with lead guttering from the church roof overnight on Sunday.

The damage has affected midweek services, and even caused a concert to be relocated as volunteers continue to mop up the mess.

The Rev Hugh Baker said: “It is early days, so we don’t know how much it will end up costing, but just to make the roof temporarily watertight will cost hundredds of pounds.

“I have been here for five years, and this is the fourth major theft we have had from our three churches (including St John’s and St Mary’s), so there is no longer any money to cover it.

“We need to sit down and have a meeting as to what we are going to do to raise funds. We will just try and rise to the challenge as best we can, but at the moment we don’t know how big that challenge is.”