A Romney Marsh vicar says he might put polystyrene heads outside one of his churches after his words brought him unexpected national fame.

The Rev Jim Field is well known on the marsh as he has no fewer than eight parishes at his disposal, from New Romney, through Old Romney to Ivychurch.

St George’s church in Ivychurch in particular suffered terribly at the hands of thieves last month when more than £20,000 of lead was taken from the roof. It had taken parishioners many years to raise the money for the roof after its lead was previously taken ten years ago.

In response Mr Field reckoned he felt like taking the thieves heads off.

When the Kentish Express spoke to him this week a slightly more considered Rev Field was gearing up for the inevitable fund-raising needed to mend the roof.

St George’s is sometimes called the Cathedral of the Marsh - as is Lydd - but whatever its status it is certainly very large for the size of village and congregation. There are usually eight people on a Sunday.

Such has been the huge number of lead thefts in past years from churches across the country, most insurers do not pay out the full cost. In all cases, the damage costs much more than the scrap metal value.

Mr Field said: "The payouts are capped at something like £5,000. The fact that there is £20,000 means that the church has lost £15,000 straight away.

"When you have a small parish like Ivychruch on the marsh they have got to fund-raise. The tragedy is that 10 years ago they lost some lead and it took them eight years to find the money and it has all gone. I feel so sick for those people. I am absolutely broken hearted.

"I was so angry I said I wanted to put their heads on poles. That was how I felt, not what I wanted to do. They wouldn’t be able to pay the £20,000 even if they were caught.

"When I see a child killed by a drunk driver and I have to do the funeral, I feel angry but as a Christian, I don’t go and shoot them. When I get home from funerals like that I cry. When I see £20,000 go from a community’s pride and joy I feel angry too."

The trouble is that church’s are vulnerable by their nature, even though the days of all churches being open have gone.

Mr Field said: "Our alarm went off at New Romney at 4.30am high on the roof this week. It is linked to our homes and when someone got there a truck pulled away so we were fortunate there.

"What we now have to ask is what would be the point in us putting it back? I’m looking to put back something that would be less attractive to thieves.

"These people are on the margins of society. If you think what they could do with £20,000 in the community..."

And he added: "I’m thinking about buying some polystyrene heads and putting them on poles outside the church for the craic."