Church leaders have slammed heartless metal thieves for targeting churches in Wilmslow nine times in just four years.

The Archdeacon of Macclesfield Ian Bishop, who is responsible for St Anne’s and St Bartholomew’s, said criminals are weakening the financial stability and morale of the church.

The figures were revealed by police after a Freedom of Information request by the Wilmslow Express.

They show 60 recorded metal thefts in the town  between April 2008 and January 2012 – and they are on the rise.

The Rev Ian Bishop said every church in his Wilmslow had been affected.

He said: “It makes me angry that criminals see churches as an easy target.

“Metal theft is a very serious problem for us. If the church suffers water damage the bill can run into astronomic amounts. Our churches are almost uninsurable now.

“It also has a seriously debilitating effect on the financial stability and morale of churches, which are run by people sacrifice a lot to support their communities and keep the buildings running. I had one minister sobbing on my shoulder following a metal theft.”

Thieves have proved willing to steal anything to cash in on the rising metal prices including beer kegs, church candlestick holders, street signs, car park bollards and brass plaques.

The catalogue includes schools, medical centres, homes and flats, building sites, garden centres, factories, shops, banks and sports clubs.

Farmers have reported the theft of machinery and gates from fields.

Lead is the focus of much of the crime, with 27 incidents – almost half of all metal theft. Other metals stolen include copper, bronze, aluminium, brass, steel, iron and titanium.

Thieves have also been hacking away car exhausts to sell the metal for scrap.

In the last two years catalytic converters, which contain platinum, palladium and rhodium, have been taken from parked cars in Alderley Edge and Handforth, have been targeted.

DCI Brian Roberts warned that metal theft has implications on businesses, homeowners and commuters. He said: “With the increase in price of scrap metal, thieves are stealing whatever they can get their hands on, without thinking about the consequences for others.

“Thieves often operate on the premise that this crime is almost victimless. This could not be further from the truth.

“Metal theft can disrupt rail networks, telephone lines, internet services, and almost always cause insurance premiums to rise.”

In November the government introduced a Metal Theft Prevention Bill which will give more powers for the police and courts to close scrapyards and shut down dealers who do not operate within the law.