Church members in Darton are reeling after the roof at All Saints was targeted by lead thieves twice in one week.

They fear it will cost about £25,000 to replace the lead stolen as well as repair a stained glass window thought to have been damaged by the culprits as they gained access to the roof.

The first theft happened last Friday afternoon, when a group of flower ladies went in at 2.30pm.

They were horrified to find water everywhere and after looking up they saw a hole in the roof where the rain had come through.

Crooks struck again on Wednesday and the vicar, Rev Jean Daykin, was alerted after a concerned resident called to ask if anyone was supposed to be on the roof.

Church warden Marie Wilkinson said it had caused a lot of upset for the congregation.

"We think it's going to cost about £25,000 to put it all right," she said.

"It's quite upsetting because there is very little we can do to protect it because we can't be there 24/7."

Rev Daykin said coping stones had been pushed off the roof and the lead ripped away, including from the gullies.

"Its so sickening what's happened," she said.

"We've had to put a viscose screening on the roof to make it watertight and I have to say the flower ladies did a fabulous job cleaning up inside.

"All we can do is pick ourselves up, dust down and carry on. The people of Darton need that place."

• A spring fair is being held at the church hall on Saturday, May 4, 10am-1pm, with all proceeds going towards the repairs.