VILLAGERS are being asked to be vigilant after a 12 foot solid stone step was stolen from a church.
The step leading from the church into the yard is the latest thing to be taken from Tankersley St Peter's, Black Lane, which has been targeted by thieves on a number of occasions in the last year.
Rev Keith Hale said copper lightning rods, flag stones and tiles off the porch roof, totalling thousands of pounds, had all been taken in the last year. He said: “It seems some characters are coming here and treating the church as some kind of builders yard where they can stock up. You can see where they have dragged the step across the yard. It won't have been easy to take.”
The theft was discovered on Saturday. Police have been informed.
Rev Hale added other churches in the borough, including one in Thurgoland, had reported similar problems and a nearby farm had also had stones taken.
