Thefts force replacement of Barr Beacon memorial's copper roof

The copper roof of an historic war memorial repeatedly targeted by metal thieves is poised to be replaced with another material to deter further attacks.

The landmark monument at Barr Beacon has had its distinctive green roof stripped three times, forcing council chiefs to pay out up to £20,000 to replace it. They are now considering covering it with felt at a cost of £6,000 or another virtually worthless material to put the thieves off once and for all.

The historic 50ft memorial and the land around it off Beacon Road, Aldridge, is to benefit from a £500,000 transformation with lottery cash.

Members of the Barr Beacon Trust are looking at a range of materials that may be suitable to repair Barr Beacon's war memorial and will be meeting shortly to discuss the issue.

It recently emerged metal thieves are striking more than 15 times each day in the region – an increase of 70 per cent – as homes, businesses and the railways are plundered by thieves cashing in on the rising price of copper and lead.

Raiders struck 840 times around the region in less than two months compared with 495 thefts in the same period last year, figures released in May showed.

Sandwell was the worst hit borough with 285 recorded thefts there since April 1, compared to 132 in the same period last year.

Dudley saw a rise from 142 to 203 in the number of raids, while in Walsall it nearly doubled from 108 to 202. Wolverhampton also recorded a rise from 113 to 150.