THIEVES failed to dampen the spirits of parishioners who carried on with their morning service despite having a hole in the church roof.

Members of the parish of St Helens and West Auckland discovered that thieves had attempted to strip the lead off the church roof but waited until the service was over before contacting the police.

Father Robert McTeer said: "I found it on Thursday morning when I went to say mass but we still carried on with the mass and called the police afterwards."

Bishop Auckland police are appealing for witnesses.Three strips of lead were taken from the church, which is a grade one listed Medieval building.

PC Chris Horner said: "They have not taken much that would have been of benefit, which leads me to believe they were disturbed. It has caused £2,000 worth of damage."

Fr McTeer said: "It is sorted out now and the roof has an alarm on it. I just wish these people would think before committing what is really a mindless act of vandalism. The scrap value of lead is not a lot these days and it has cost more to repair the damage than what they will have made from this."

The damage comes after the community worked hard to raise £200,000 for major restoration on the church.

Fr McTeer said: "This is a beautiful little church that is well used and supported by the local community. It is a very special building to them and they have a great respect for it. I have been here eight years and I have worked hard with the community and the church really has suffered little vandalism in all the time I have been here."

Anyone who saw anything suspicious between 7pm last Wednesday night and 9am Thursday, should contact PC Horner at Bishop Auckland Police Station on (01388) 603566.