A Remembrance Day service was marred by the discovery that thieves had stripped lead from the roof of a village church, causing inestimable damage.

East Anglian Daily Times: Damage done by lead thieves at St Johns church, Elmswell. Picture: REV PETER GOODRIDGEDamage done by lead thieves at St Johns church, Elmswell. Picture: REV PETER GOODRIDGE (Image: Rev Peter Goodridge)

Criminals struck under the cover of darkness – at some point between 7pm on Friday night and 9am Saturday morning – in Elmswell, near Stowmarket.

Members of St John’s Church came upon the desecration as they arrived to remember villagers who gave their lives in the First World War.

East Anglian Daily Times: Damage done by lead thieves at St Johns church, Elmswell. Picture: REV PETER GOODRIDGEDamage done by lead thieves at St Johns church, Elmswell. Picture: REV PETER GOODRIDGE (Image: Rev Peter Goodridge)

The church was the latest target in what appears to be a resurgence in thefts of lead from buildings across Suffolk.

Reverend Peter Goodridge, rector of St John’s, where a roof alarm – installed for the purpose of deterring lead thieves – was found smashed on Saturday morning, said: “We arrived for a short prayer meeting and a small service in our little garden of remembrance.

East Anglian Daily Times: Damage done by lead thieves at St Johns church, Elmswell. Picture: REV PETER GOODRIDGEDamage done by lead thieves at St Johns church, Elmswell. Picture: REV PETER GOODRIDGE (Image: Rev Peter Goodridge)

“In the middle of the garden we noticed two bits of masonry.

“We looked up, thinking it could have been storm damage

East Anglian Daily Times: Damage done by lead thieves at St Johns church, Elmswell. Picture: REV PETER GOODRIDGEDamage done by lead thieves at St Johns church, Elmswell. Picture: REV PETER GOODRIDGE (Image: Rev Peter Goodridge)

“However, upon walking inside the church, we saw daylight coming in through a part of the roof I knew to be the main area of lead.

“I suddenly realised I was standing in pools of water.

East Anglian Daily Times: Damage done by lead thieves at St Johns church, Elmswell. Picture: REV PETER GOODRIDGEDamage done by lead thieves at St Johns church, Elmswell. Picture: REV PETER GOODRIDGE (Image: Rev Peter Goodridge)

“It’s a carpeted area where we also keep a television screen.

“It’s too early to tell how much repairs will cost, but it could be tens of thousands of pounds.

East Anglian Daily Times: Damage done by lead thieves at St Johns church, Elmswell. Picture: REV PETER GOODRIDGEDamage done by lead thieves at St Johns church, Elmswell. Picture: REV PETER GOODRIDGE (Image: Rev Peter Goodridge)

“The fire brigade was superb and helped us make the roof water tight.”

Rev Goodridge promised it would be “business as usual” for Sunday’s main Remembrance service at the church.

East Anglian Daily Times: Damage done by lead thieves at St Johns church, Elmswell. Picture: REV PETER GOODRIDGEDamage done by lead thieves at St Johns church, Elmswell. Picture: REV PETER GOODRIDGE (Image: Rev Peter Goodridge)

Lead roofing was recently stolen from a building in Church Lane, Sproughton, and from Woodbridge Library, while St Andrew’s Church, in nearby Melton, was targeted overnight on Friday, November 3.

A police spokeswoman said officers were investigating whether the latest incident is linked to recent thefts.

East Anglian Daily Times: Damage done by lead thieves at St Johns church, Elmswell. Picture: REV PETER GOODRIDGEDamage done by lead thieves at St Johns church, Elmswell. Picture: REV PETER GOODRIDGE (Image: Rev Peter Goodridge)

In 2016 Samson Stancu, 20, of Deakins Road in Birmingham, was jailed for his role in stealing lead from a church in Cratfield, near Halesworth.

It followed a high profile campaign – Stop the Roof Raiders – launched by the East Anglian Daily Times and its sister paper, the Eastern Daily Press, the year before, after lead from about 40 churches across the two counties had been stolen.

East Anglian Daily Times: Damage done by lead thieves at St Johns church, Elmswell. Picture: REV PETER GOODRIDGEDamage done by lead thieves at St Johns church, Elmswell. Picture: REV PETER GOODRIDGE (Image: Rev Peter Goodridge)

Last year, churches in Yaxley, Great Glemham, Sibton and Polstead were all targeted within a few days.

Officers are appealing for anyone who witnessed anything suspicious in the area or has information which can help police to contact them on 101.

East Anglian Daily Times: The Rev Peter Goodridge at St John's Church in Elmswell where thieves have stripped the lead of the flat roof. Picture: ANDY ABBOTTThe Rev Peter Goodridge at St John's Church in Elmswell where thieves have stripped the lead of the flat roof. Picture: ANDY ABBOTT (Image: Archant)

East Anglian Daily Times: The Rev Peter Goodridge at St John's Church in Elmswell where thieves have stripped the lead of the flat roof. Debris fallen from the roof after the raid Picture: ANDY ABBOTTThe Rev Peter Goodridge at St John's Church in Elmswell where thieves have stripped the lead of the flat roof. Debris fallen from the roof after the raid Picture: ANDY ABBOTT (Image: Archant)

East Anglian Daily Times: The Rev Peter Goodridge at St John's Church in Elmswell where theives have stripped the lead of the flat roof. Picture: ANDY ABBOTTThe Rev Peter Goodridge at St John's Church in Elmswell where theives have stripped the lead of the flat roof. Picture: ANDY ABBOTT (Image: Archant)

East Anglian Daily Times: The Rev Peter Goodridge at St John's Church in Elmswell where theives have stripped the lead of the flat roof. Debris fallen from the roof following the raid Picture: ANDY ABBOTTThe Rev Peter Goodridge at St John's Church in Elmswell where theives have stripped the lead of the flat roof. Debris fallen from the roof following the raid Picture: ANDY ABBOTT (Image: Archant)

East Anglian Daily Times: The Rev Peter Goodridge at St John's Church in Elmswell where theives have stripped the lead of the flat roof. Picture: ANDY ABBOTTThe Rev Peter Goodridge at St John's Church in Elmswell where theives have stripped the lead of the flat roof. Picture: ANDY ABBOTT (Image: Archant)