THOUSANDS of pounds of damage has been caused to Washford Memorial Hall after thieves stole lead valued at just £20 from the roof of the hall.

Although only a narrow strip of lead was taken, the thieves damaged a flat roof and broke tiles in the process.

And with the recent long spell of dry weather, no-one realised the lead was missing until Sunday's day-long deluge.

The downpours caused water to flood through the damaged roof into the hall below, wrecking carpets and causing the ceiling in a store area to collapse.

Dan Searle, chairman of the hall committee, said the culprits had simply run a knife along the strip of lead and torn it out, leaving a gaping hole and a trail of damage in their wake.

"I often read about things like this in the newspaper and I always wonder what possesses people to do it.

"Luckily we managed to got hold of local builder Kelvin Nicholas to come in and fix it and he said the scrap value of the lead was no more than £20," said Mr Searle, pictured with the repaired ceiling.

Although people using the hall on Saturday complained the carpets were wet and Mr Searle had noticed a damp smell, the main leak was above a store cupboard and the true extent of the problem only became apparent when the ceiling came crashing down.

"It was almost as though we had had a flood coming through. It's so frustrating just for the sake of £20," Mr Searle said.

But determined not to let the disaster become a major catastrophe, the hall committee is already busy planning a major fundraising event to raise money to support the venue.

Next Saturday, June 25, the hall will host a supper evening featuring live music from the winner and runner-up from the local Battle of the Bands competition, plus entertainment from local group Sad Dad Café and the hall's own band Holiday in Dubai.

The committee will be providing ham, egg and chips and there will also be a licensed bar and raffle - all in return for £5 in aid of hall funds.

Doors will open at 7pm and tables can be reserved by phoning 01984 641171.

"It should be a fun-filled evening," Mr Searle said, who only took on the role of committee chairman two months ago at a time when the hall was struggling to make enough money to cover costs.

But having turned around its flagging financial fortunes and with Mr Searle and the committee looking forward to a positive future, the weekend's events have come as a bitter blow.

"Everything in the store room has been damaged, including tables and chairs, the carpets are soaked and it's going to run into thousands of pounds to repair.

"But it's not so much about the money, we're insured, it's the inconvenience of it all.

"I went in on Monday to be confronted with a scene of devastation and have had to sort out the insurers and get the builder in.

"I've only been chairman for two months, the village hall was in financial difficulties and was facing closure, but we've turned it around, put in a lot of hard work and effort and this happens," Mr Searle said.

An emergency meeting of the hall committee was held on Monday night and by Tuesday morning the dedicated team had managed to make good much of the internal damage.

In a statement the committee said: "We are all working people and have very little time to spend on the telephone and going around putting this right again.

"It really is an absolute nightmare cause by these mindless idiots. We only hope they are caught and given a punishment fit for the crime.

"We would love to see these thieves caught and given a community punishment where they have to come back to this hall and pay back their wrong-doings."

It is not the first time the community of Washford has suffered at the hands of lead thieves.

Last year, the centuries-old parish church was the target and despite the quick application of a temporary roof cover, the weather again proved too powerful and water poured into the building.

Although the organ escaped damage, church leaders were left counting the cost of the theft as a part-wooden floor was soaked and the roof badly damaged.

Anyone with information about the theft of lead from the hall roof should contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Photo: Steve Guscott