The attack on Britain’s churches for their valuable lead has reached catastrophic proportions; with seven of them being targeted and having their roofs stripped every day.

With figures showing that - in the last few years alone - some have been targeted more than 10 times, the problem has become so bad that a brand new campaign to install roof alarms in the worst-hit churches has been launched. Set up by leading church and heritage insurer Ecclesiastical, “Hands Off Our Church Roofs” calls on local communities to unite and fight back against thieves.

Latest research reveals that almost half of Brits (49%) are appalled that someone could steal lead from a church, and over a third (37%) are saddened by the crime. With one in five (18%) saying their lives have been directly affected by metal theft, it comes as no surprise that nine in ten (90%) would support a change in the law making it harder to sell stolen lead, and eight in ten (79%) want tougher sentencing altogether for these criminals.

For many, Britain’s churches are seen as the heart of our local communities and heritage, and they are often the setting for the most cherished and landmark milestones of our lives - but, sadly, these buildings are now being eroded and – in some cases – entirely destroyed by criminals looking for quick cash.