Church vandals strike

DISMAY... Councillor Val Sedgwick and church warden Neil Crook survey the damage

THIEVES have targeted a church in Lees for the third time this year.

They stole four rectangular Yorkstone slabs, measuring about 4ft in length, from the entrance of St Thomas’s Church, Leesfield, on Friday or Saturday when the church was not in use.

Similar slabs were also taken from neighbouring Lees Library on the same street.

Parishioners believe the highly sought-after stone could have been stolen to order.

The church, in Thomas Street, has already been targeted by vandals this year.

Lead was stolen from the roof in April and windows were smashed by yobs in May.

Saddleworth West and Lees councillor Val Sedgwick, a regular member of the congregation, branded the thieves “scumbags”.

She said: “What they have done is absolutely disgusting.

“If these people will steal from a church, they will steal from anyone.

“We are so angry that this has happened again.

“The slabs will need replacing as soon as possible in case we have a funeral or wedding but it will cost us quite a bit — money parishioners and the church haven’t got.”

Councillor Sedgwick, a former warden at the church, said the theft had been reported to police and Oldham Council.

She revealed the church was considering installing CCTV cameras in a bid to beat the vandals.

Councillor Sedgwick added: “We are being targeted all the time, it feels like we are under siege.

“We would like to have CCTV cameras around the church but it will cost us more money and we shouldn’t have to put cameras up.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Councillor Sedgwick on 0161-652 4507 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800-555 111.