LEAD thieves have struck at a Blackburn church for a second time in eight months.

A cleaner noticed damage to the roof of St Luke and St Philip’s CE Church, Bank Top, when she arrived for work yesterday morning.

Now church officials are waiting to find out how much repairs are likely to cost.

The damage has left parts of the roof open to the elements.

Members of the local community have been left in disbelief that a church could be targeted twice.

The last incident cost thousands of pounds to repair.

Parish administrator Christine Culley said: “They’ve really made a mess to the roof this time.

“You can see the beams underneath and there’s holes all over.

“Last time it happened, it cost a couple of thousand to repair, and now we’re waiting for the insurance company to assess the damage.

“People need to be vigilant against this sort of thing. It’s a real shame, and also the thieves doing this are putting themselves in danger.”

A spokesperson for Lancashire Police, said detectives had launched an investigation.