A charity has been left facing a repair bill of more than £20,000 after brazen thieves stole the lead from a theatre roof, causing it to flood.

The volunteer-run Bocking Arts Theatre, Bocking End, Braintree, was targeted by the crooks during an early-morning raid.

And with concerns over whether the insurance company will pay for the repairs, the trustees may be faced with finding the cash themselves, something they could barely afford.

Several classes have already had to be cancelled since the raid and the Bocking Antiques Centre, based within the arts centre, has also been closed for several days.

Andy Beatty, commercial director of the Bocking Arts Theatre Trust, said: “We are all volunteers and it breaks your heart when people can do something like this - the wanton damage for what cannot be more than a couple of hundred quid.

“The building belongs to the people of Braintree and it was left to the town by the Courtaulds.

“We are a little bit off the beaten track and even though we have been here since 1863 some people do not know we are here - but the arts theatre is an important part of the town.

“It belongs to everyone and so somebody is damaging our heritage.

“The whole thing has been a nightmare.”

Two thieves climbed on to the roof of the property between 1am and 4.40am on Friday, March 9.

The bumbling duo, who were caught on CCTV fleeing the premises, managed to damage a large number of tiles on the roof before ripping as much of the lead flashing off as they could get.

The roof was repaired as well as possible but subsequent rain and snowfall caused leaks which increased the damage.

Mr Beatty said: “At first I didn’t realise the lead had been stolen, I just thought we had a leak in the roof because we had really bad rain the week or so before.

“It has been leaking in the kitchenette and then started leaking in the main hallway.

“The lights are not working and the fire alarm sensors have been disconnected. The flooring is coming up because it is so wet.”

The trustees already know the roof repairs will cost nearly £8,000, with the internal repairs set to take the figure above £20,000.

Trustees of Bocking Arts Theatre were forced to implement extra security measures, such as CCTV cameras, in 2014 after two break-ins.

Last week, lead from the roof of Holmes and Hills Solicitors, in Bocking End, Braintree, was also taken overnight.

Essex Police are investigating the thefts but no arrests have been made.

Witnesses should contact Braintree Police Station on 101, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Watch the thieves flee the premises after stealing lead from roof of theatre here: