MEMBERS of the congregation have been mopping up today (Thursday) after criminals stripped the lead off the roof of their village church overnight.

St Giles' Church, Bradford-on-Tone, faces a bill likely to run into six figures after rain flooded through the gaps left by the thieves.

They even had the cheek to use neighbours' wheelie bins to transport their ill-gotten haul to a waiting vehicle before driving off.

A £32,000 project to repair the church organ was due to be completed in a fortnight, but it will now be out of service for months.

It will need to be completely rebuilt, with the final cost possibly more than four times the original price.

Churchwarden June Best said: "We're devastated. It's heartbreaking.

"I can't believe anybody could do that. It's heartless.

"They're only interested in what they're taking and don't care about the damage they cause."

Mrs Best and a team of volunteers have rallied round to clear up the mess and loss adjusters are expected to inspect the damage this afternoon.

Tarpaulins are being placed on the roofs of the north and south aisles where the thefts took place to keep any further rainwater out.

"Everything's absolutely saturated," said Mrs Best.

"The hymn books are all wet and other items such as the loop and speaker system are damaged as the electric unit is sitting in water.

"It's particularly upsetting because of the organ.

"The workmanship has been so outstanding. It was nearly finished.

"The refurbishment will have to be done again, but it also needs repairing - for example the bellows which had another 30 or 40 years' life will need replacing."

Equipment belonging to the team carrying out the organ work has also been damaged.

Church members have been helping with the clean up operation, while locals and the pub owners have supplied warm drinks.

"We've had an absolutely wonderful band of helpers. Everybody's been really wonderful," added Mrs Best.

"There's going to be a massive bill, but we're expecting to maintain our Sunday morning services."

PC Joanne Jeffery has appealed for anyone with any information to call police on 101 giving the call handler the reference number 5220047607.