A CHURCH targeted by lead thieves nine times in just three months has vowed to fight closure – despite repair bills rocketing to £17,000.

St John’s Church, Accrington, which is home to the Accrington Pals Chapel, reopened last year after a three-and-a-half year campaign to raise £90,000 to complete a restoration.

Since then the listed building in Addison Street has been besieged by metal thefts, and under the terms of their insurance they can only claim £5,000 in a calendar year, leaving them to foot the remainder of the bill.

However the Reverend John Binks said they were determined to fight on. Asked if the church could close he said: “That’s a very hard question to answer.

"However we have not given up, no matter what has been thrown at us in the past and we are not ready to give up yet.

“We do get despondent at times, but we do have the support of the community.”

Repair work to fix damage that has been caused so far and initial security measures have created a total bill so far of £17,000.

The church also hope to install CCTV to prevent further thefts, but this would increase the bill substantially.

Church warden Frank Whitehead said: “It’s a major issue. If the lead continues to go, the water will go into the fabric of the building and before you know it we will have dry rot.

“The insurance companies will only payout so much money with the remainder having to be found by the church. We will do all we can to raise the money.

“The church is a listed building and it has been agreed that we will now replacethe stolen lead with alternative materials.”

The church are to launch a fundraising appeal beginning with a Christmas Fair on Sunday, December 4.