EAST Meon’s vicar came back from holiday to the welcome news that the go-ahead has been given to replace lead which was stolen from the church’s roof.

The lead on the front of All Saints Church was stolen overnight on Thursday, June 16, and since then tarpaulins have covered the roof, keeping the interior dry, and allowing services, weddings, and baptisms to go ahead as planned.

The Rev Jane Ball said: “I came back to find out the insurance company has agreed that we can start getting quotes to get the work done, it was the best news.”

But although given the insurance company has given its blessing to replace the roof, Mrs Ball says it could be at least Christmas before the work is done.

She said: “We have to get quotes and select a builder.

“But then of course they have to have time free to do it, and, as it is a specialist job, we can only use certain builders, who may be busy.

“I would like to see the new roof on by Christmas, but it will all depend on when a builder can do the work.”

She is also worried that the insurers might insist a material other than lead is used to replace the missing roof.

“I would like to see lead up there, it’s in keeping with the age of the church, and I’m hoping that it can be used,” she said.

There are also hopes that timber supporting the roof can be renewed at the same time as lead is replaced.

This would leave the roof secure, weather tight and not needing any more work for years to come.

Mrs Ball said: “While the roof is off and the scaffolding is up, it would make sense to replace the timber now, rather than have to do it at some point in the future.”

This is the second time the church has been targeted by lead thieves.

After the first theft, security cameras were placed on the roof and since the June theft, a roof security system has been installed . It will be extended to include the replacement roof when it is done, making it harder for thieves to plunder the lead in future.