Lead theft forces insurance rise

Churches in Cumbria have seen an increase in insurance premiums due to the amount of lead being stolen.

The Kirkby Lonsdale area has eight churches - three of which have been targeted in the last year.

Insurance company Ecclesiastical said it had now been forced to limit cover and increase premiums after 2007 saw a record £9m in claims.

The company said it was working with churches to introduce better ways of preventing lead theft.

Kirkby Lonsdale's team rector Richard Snow said: "We've changed our floodlighting regime and there is a product called smart water, which can enables metal to be traced, so we use that where we can."

Chris Pitt, from Ecclesiastical, said 10 years ago there were just a handful of claims totalling a few thousand pounds. But he said 2007 saw more than 2,300 claims totalling £9m.

He said: "The problem has got so bad we have had to put up premiums and introduce some limits for cover.

"We are trying to help churches protect themselves, churches and the insurance company can't do it alone, but if we work with police and scrap companies we can do something."