Churchwarden Lucette Rees has described an attempted lead theft from St Mary’s Church in Calne as her worst nightmare.

The church was targeted on Sunday shortly before 11pm when neighbours heard a loud bang outside.

Police were called, the helicopter scrambled and the dog unit raced to the scene, but the thieves had fled empty-handed.

Officers found a large piece of lead which had fallen from the roof and damaged a headstone, which disturbed the thieves. They left the scene in the direction of Church Street.

Mrs Rees was full of praise for neighbours who called the police.

“I’d like to thank the vigilant people who live nearby who were looking out for the church,” she said.

“It is every churchwarden’s worst nightmare to hear that their church has been targeted.”

Mrs Rees said the roof will now be repaired using Smartwater, a new system which makes the lead traceable so it cannot be sold on.

She said: “It is going to be expensive but if it prevents it happening again, it is something that we will have to do.

“Other churches have done it already because there is such a lot of theft around.”

PC Hans Monahan is appealing for witnesses.

He said: “The theft of metal is something that we must be very vigilant about.

“Thanks to the quick reaction of the public in this incident, the actual theft of the lead was prevented.

“The piece of lead which fell from the roof was enormous and needed three men to lift it, so it is almost certain that these people had a van or flat bed vehicle in the area ready to transport it.

“We’d like to hear from anybody with any information.”

Anyone with information should contact police on 0845 408 7000 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.