THIEVES posing as building contractors have stolen scaffolding worth £6,000 from a borough church restoration project.

St Nicholas Church on The Green in South Ockendon was consecrated in 1142. It is Grade I-listed and is one of only six churches in Essex with a round tower.

However, after almost 900 years as the centrepiece of the local community its has been placed on the 'Heritage at Risk Register' and, following an architectural survey last year it was declared unsafe.

The church committee launched an appeal for more than £150k for the first phase of repairs to the tower and to the rest of the church and scaffolding was put in place to enable it to start and to secure the tower.

At some time between 24 May and 11 June people posing as builders removed the scaffolding surrounding the tower.

A statement from the church says: "This has been reported to the police and fortunately for St Nick's the liability lies with the building firm and scaffold company.

Dumping on the church grounds.

"In addition, a large pile of rubbish has been tipped in our churchyard.

"Please could we ask our neighbours to keep eyes and ears open for any information that might be useful regarding this.

"If you see builders on site, please contact us immediately - you can use the message button on the Facebook page as we will know whether builders are expected on site.

"And please keep things courteous. Attacking those who did this is neither kind nor the way we would want to respond as a church community."

Memories of St Nicolas Church.