METAL thieves seem to be active in Bolton once more.

Cash that would otherwise have been spent on helping to educate children will have to be used instead to repair damage to the roof at High Lawn Primary School in Holden Avenue, Sharples.

This is because a thief removed a quantity of lead flashing recently without stopping to think about the effect his actions would have on the school or its pupils.

The same lack of feeling is evident in worrying numbers of thefts at churches in the area over recent years.

St Bartholomew’s in Westhoughton has now been hit three times in nine months and the costs run into thousands of pounds.

Who are the people who do this sort of thing?

Common sense suggests that the number of individuals with the climbing skills and confidence necessary to indulge in this type of crime is not large.

Also, there cannot be that many outlets for booty of this kind.

You would imagine that the police — with the help of watchful members of the public — would have a good chance of catching the perpetrators.

Let’s hope so.