A brave reverend chased away suspected thieves attempting to steal from a church.

It's thought the shameless group had turned up at St Mary's in Greenhithe earlier in the day and asked for scrap metal from parishioners.

Rev Andrew Avery and his wife Rev Carol Avery, of nearby St Mary's in Stone, heard the men in their back garden at around 11pm last night.

They believe the church in Mounts Road was targeted after the alleged thieves spotted scaffolding which had been put up for cleaning purposes.

After running outside to stop the three men, the group drove away in a Ford Transit van.

Carol and Andrew are instrumental in running the St Mary Greenhithe Community Cafe, and Mary's Child.

The projects offer pastoral care, food and a range of other support to people in need.

Carol describes the men as relatively young, and wearing hoodies and jogging bottoms.

She said: "At about 11pm we heard some funny noises.

"Three men were trying to steal scaffolding and Andrew chased them away.

"It was so cheeky because we gave them some stuff that morning.

"It's hard to move metal quietly but I'm not sure he should have chased them.

"I put it straight on Facebook as people around here are very good at helping one another."

She added that there had been similar incidents reported in the area and has warned other people to be careful.

Kent Police spokesman Vicki Foster said: "Kent Police was called at 10.40pm on Wednesday, May 16 to a report of metal scaffolding being stolen from a church in Mounts Road, Greenhithe." Inquiries are ongoing.