VALUABLE stone flags and memorial stones have been stolen by thieves in a handful of churchyard raids.

A total of 42 York stone flags and pathway memorials worth hundreds of pounds have been lifted in four separate raids on Leigh Parish Church of St Mary. Others have been taken from the Tyldesley Parish Church of St George.

Now Leigh Town Centre Risk Management Group leader Cllr Brian Jarvis has condemned the thefts -- and urged people to help track down those responsible.

He asked: "Is nothing sacred? Today's society doesn't respect anything. What will be next, cemeteries?"

Cllr Jarvis is querying why the thefts were undetected by CCTV and will seek assurance that cameras would in future be focused on the church and churchyard.

"It's an absolute disgrace. Over a period of weeks thieves have stolen a lot of valuable York stone pathways flags and memorials from the burial grounds.

"It's incredible that we are talking about the desecration of a church in the centre of Leigh.

"On June 9 nine were stolen, a dozen were taken on July 8, four more on August 18 and last Thursday 17 were taken. Somebody must have seen something. Perhaps people thought the thieves were maintenance men.

"It's theft of the worst kind and seems to be getting worse. We are determined to catch whoever is responsible. The Council will meet the cost of replacements under a management agreement regarding the Leigh churchyard."