CHARITY workers have been literally left without a roof over their heads - thanks to scrap metal and lead thieves.

The Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Council for Voluntary Service, which helps over 500 community groups, face a bill of thousands to repair their roof after thieves stripped it of lead and cast-iron guttering.

Staff arrived at the listed building in Accrington on Monday to discover water pouring down the walls from the damaged roof.

Now no-one at the centre can work upstairs until repairs are carried out, and say the incident has caused "complete disruption" to their work helping others.

They also fear heavy rain will create further damage at the Cannon Street building while they arrange to have the roof fixed.

The team of nine support local groups from small youth football teams and brownie packs to larger organisations such as Maundy Grange and Crossroads.

Staff say that their work helping these organis-ations recruit volunteers and develop their services has been put on hold by the theft which took place over the weekend.

Chief officer at the CVS, Christine Fish, said: "Like many charities based in Accrington money is very tight due to lack of funding, but we continue to do our best supporting others.

"We work in an environment that is embedded with a feeling of goodwill and trust and making life better for people and communities.

"It's not that we are naïve. It is because we look for the good in people and society.

"However our faith in others took a huge blow when we arrived at work to find water pouring in through the ceiling, simply because someone had decided they wanted the lead from our roof.

"The damage will take weeks to repair, has upset members of staff and the time taken to sort it out is eating into our scant resources of time and staff capacity. "As they work in a listed building, the CVS must replace the lead roof and cast iron guttering exactly the way it was. Staff have not yet been given a figure for repairing the damage, but expect it to run into thousands.

Accrington Police said the theft happened between 10am on Friday May 31 and 8.30am on Monday June 2.

Thieves are thought to have climbed a flat-roofed building at the side of the CVS premises where they stripped lead from the whole of the building's slanting roof.

They would have needed a vehicle waiting to move such a large amount of lead.

It was the latest in a string of thefts that have taken place across East Lancashire prompted by the soaring price of scrap metal, including the thieves who chopped down a telephone pole and others who stole manhole covers.

Any witnesses are asked to call Accrington Police on 01254 51212.