A vicar has spoken of his upset and annoyance after a church roof was targeted by thieves for the second time in less than a year.

The 800-year-old St Nicholas' Church, in Tolleshunt Major, has had tiles, worth £700, stolen from its roof and porch.

The Rev Paul Southern said he was shocked it had happened again.

The latest theft at the medieval church has come very soon after the last one, when tiles on a different part of the roof were taken.

While the church's insurance will pay for replacement roofing, Mr Southern is angry it has happened again and is hoping people in the village will keep a watchful eye over the church to stop a repeat.

He said: "It is a very annoying thing to have happened and also very upsetting."

He said he believed the tiles could have been stolen by the same thieves who struck last time.

Published Wednesday, March 6, 2002