Shareshill church hitting back at raiders

A church in South Staffordshire devastated by metal thieves has had a "cutting edge" alarm system installed to deter raiders.

Shareshill's St Mary and St Luke Church has been struck three times by vandals who caused thousands of pounds worth of damage.

But new alarm technology developed in Switzerland has now been fitted by security firm Heritage Shield Limited free of charge.

The company is testing the system in a small number of churches in the UK to gauge how successful it is.

Dr John Fawn, managing director at the Staffordshire firm, said: "Motion detectors have been placed on the roof along with an aerial and a control box, and there is a connection to the lead. If the motion detectors are triggered, a text message is sent to the designated person within seconds.

"It is really cutting edge technology and it can be acted upon within seconds. These people doing the crime can actually be caught in the act."

Metal thieves have struck at the Grade II-listed church three times in three months. It was first targeted in June causing £300 worth of damage. A further £4,000 of damage was caused in August when crooks stripped the roof twice.

Dr Fawn said the Agora Guard system installed normally cost at least £2,000, depending on the number of motion detectors fitted.

Rev Sara Bowie, from the church, said the roof had not been targeted since the new system was put in place.

A fundraising campaign to raise the £30,000 needed to build a new roof is under way. A Christmas tree festival will take place on Saturday from 11am until 3.30pm.