THIEVES have targeted a village church for a second time - in an attempt to steal the path through the churchyard.
Sandstone flags from the 45ft path at Holy Trinity Church, in Acaster Malbis, near York, were stolen in 1999 and had to be replaced at a cost of £3,000.
After the last theft, church officials decided to bolt the replacements into concrete - and churchwarden Roger Raimes believes that is why the thieves failed this time.
But the stone was badly damaged and the church is now facing another hefty insurance claim.
"I can't believe somebody has come and done this again," said Mr Raimes.
"The fact is this is a desecration of sacred land and, what's more, it is community property that has been attacked and now a huge amount of work has to go in to putting them back."
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