Everyone knows there's a shocking shortage of tradespeople - but try finding a repairman the next time your antique stained-glass window is smashed.
Members of the historic Holy Trinity Church are still suffering from the legacy of two callous break-ins nine months after they happened.
The huge stained-glass window on the eastern side of the church, in Hockley Road, Rayleigh, is still partially boarded up after thieves twice smashed through it.
One panel of the window, which was installed in 1926, was smashed on Boxing Day last year and a thief clambered over the church altar to steal £1,000 from the Christmas collection.
Five days later, on New Year's Eve, a second panel was smashed and sound equipment was stolen.
Joyce Edmunds, one of the church's wardens, said: "Panels of the window were smashed into smithereens and it was very shocking at the time. The boards remain a sad reminder of what happened.
"There are only a few people who can do it and the woman for this area is run off her feet. We expected it to be done by September but it is going to take longer than that now."
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