Thieves have stripped lead from the roof of a Medway church for the fourth time in a year.

The Rev Bonnie Appleton, vicar of St Matthew’s, Wigmore, spoke out after thieves struck two nights in a row causing serious damage to the Drewery Drive church.

The thieves, who targeted the church last Wednesday and Thursday, stripped almost all of the remaining lead flashings, leaving holes in the roof.

Mrs Appleton, pictured on the roof, called the act “soul destroying”.

She said: “The problem is with all the rain it is not just the damage from taking the lead, but the damage they have done to the roof. The church is now liable to flooding.”

In August last year about 40 metres of lead flashing was taken from the roof of the church, but Mrs Appleton said some was left behind which they sold on for a small amount.

She added: “You see it on the news about how much lead is worth, but you don’t get much for it, so it just feels like useless vandalism, but it hasn’t been victimless because the insurance company will only pay out so much and the church will have to fund the rest. The whole thing is soul destroying”

The church will be replacing the lead with a metal substitute, which is worthless to thieves.

Figures released earlier this year revealed that insurance claims by churches in the Diocese of Rochester for metal theft have tripled in two years. In 2011 about 60 claims for theft totalling almost £100,000 were made, compared to 40 in 2010 and 20 in 2009.

Figures from Kent Police revealed that Medway was the worst affected area in Kent for metal thefts from churches.

A spokesman said it has worked with churches to ensure security advice is included in church newsletters and wardens are aware of crime prevention measures.

Most churches have been provided with a free smartwater solution to help protect the buildings.

CCTV could be installed around Chatham’s naval war memorial to stop it being targeted by metal thieves.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission, the charity which looks after the memorial, has said security will be stepped up at themonument in the Great Lines Heritage Park after thieves stripped lead and copper from the historic site on Friday, May 4.

It repaired the damage earlier this month at a cost of £9,000.

Now the commission is in talks with Medway Council about installing CCTV to protect the monument, which is a tribute to more than 18,500 Chatham-based sailors who drowned at sea in the two world wars.

Patrols have been conducted at the memorial for more than 10 years after the site became a repeat target of vandalism, with paving stones being broken and the walls being covered in grafitti.