ANY form of stealing is wrong, but to target a community at its most vulnerable is quite simply despicable.

The theft of lead, to the value of tens of thousands of pounds, from St Peter’s Church at Bywell, has rocked the neighbourhood.

Callous thieves have shown a disregard for the Norman building’s rich history, and the role it continues to play in village life, purely for their own selfish gain.

Even more alarming is the timing of the theft. Those responsible set their sights on a remote church at a time when lockdown restrictions were only beginning to ease.

It was a time, in July, when many public buildings remained closed, and people were relying on trust and comradeship to support each other through the coronavirus pandemic.

We can take heart from the fact that a good samaritan made available modern technology, in the form of a drone, to help establish the extent of the damage.

The strong community spirit of the Tyne Valley will always prevail over those who seek to take advantage.