Churches across Essex are being fortified in the fight against crime.

Vicars are having alarms and security lighting installed at parish churches in a bid to beat the vandals who target the historic and holy buildings.

Even sacred objects like chalices - along with everything else which could be stolen - are being security coded.

The drastic move, which is costing thousands of pounds to implement, has already had an impressive effect.

Only one insurance claim for vandalism was made in the whole of the Chelmsford diocese last year, compared to nine in 1997.

But the diocese is struggling not to turn its churches into fortresses.

The Rev Philip Banks said: "We still want the churches to be accessible, so we are taking subtle and discreet measures."

He added: "The churches are having visits from crime prevention officers to decide what security measures to take.

"We now have alarms in certain parts of the church and we are security coding any movable objects and putting in external lighting."

The diocese, which covers 503 churches in Essex and east London, is delighted the new measures appear to be working.

Rev Banks said: "There has been a huge reduction in the amount of money paid out in insurance claims because there has been a big reduction in the amount of thefts and vandalism.

"We have received a lot of applications from churches for security measures and it is all looking very positive."

News of the tough new security measures comes as one of Britain's most historic churches was attacked by thieves.

A safe was ripped from the wall of the chapel of St Peter's-on-the-Wall at Bradwell near Maldon and the remains of a fire were found inside the isolated church which dates back to 653AD.

Rev Hugh Beavan, chaplain of St Peter's described the theft as "very distressing and upsetting" but vowed it would not lead to the closure of the building, believed to be the first Christian church in Essex.

Annual pilgrimages involving many thousands of Christians are made to St Peter's. Mr Beavan said the safe, which only has a few pounds in it from donations, was removed from the wall and has not been found.

The remains of a small fire were found in the chapel but there was no damage. Mr Beavan said he thought the theft was the work of a professional gang.

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