THIEVES have stolen lead valued at thousands of pounds from the roof of a village church.

The Church Of St Nicholas in Wrentham was targeted during the week, between busy Sunday services.

The secluded church, parts of which hail from around the 13th and 15th Century, features a medieval stained glass window depicting St Nicholas, which is reputed to be one of the oldest pictures in England.

During the 1990s, the church embarked on a major re-roofing and restoration campaign but the efforts of parishioners to maintain the building have been hit by the theft, with the side window of a porch smashed by the thieves.

'Thousands of pounds worth of lead was taken from the chapel area of the roof at sometime between November 7 and November 14,' a Suffolk police spokesman said. 'Someone would've needed a lorry to have taken that amount of lead and police are keen to hear from anyone with information.'

• Infomation should be directed to Beccles Police on 01986 835300.