GRAVEYARD thieves have struck at the Forest Church, Harrow Hill, making off with 10 metres of sandstone coping stones from the churchyard wall.

Church warden Jane White said: “Ten stones valued at more than £2,500 were stolen in the night and loaded on to a lorry in the bus stop lay-by, probably to be used as stone flooring or patio.

“We had teams of volunteers cleaning weeds and brambles from the wall bordering the churchyard, revealing this lovely stretch of wall and now this has happened.

Rector Nick Bromfield said: “Measures are being put in place and if anyone wishes to have another go they will be seen.

“This is a real blow and the lowest of thefts on a vulnerable ancient place of Christian worship. It costs £80,000 a year to keep our Church open and we must find all this money ourselves.”

A Gloucestershire Police spokesman said: “Anyone with information should call police on 101 quoting incident 165 of August 15.”