Church organ ruined in raid

Wedding couples are being forced to do without traditional music after metal thieves ruined a landmark Wolverhampton church's organ.

Raiders stole lead from the roof of St Michael's and All Angels church, sending rainwater cascading down into the pipes and ruining wood and leatherwork.

Devastated church leaders now face a £110,000 bill, much of which will not be covered by insurance.

St Michael's, on Tettenhall's Lower Green, has around 30 weddings on its books between now and December – all of which face services without the traditional organ music.

The church has been targeted at least a dozen times in the last 18 months by thieves cashing in on the soaring prices of scrap metal.

The latest attack is a blow for the church, which had just spent £10,000 on routine maintenance for the organ, which was installed when the church was rebuilt 50 years ago. It is now virtually unusable, although some hymns using limited notes can be played.

Rev Margaret Mattocks said: "St Michael's is a wedding church and the organ is part of the package. We've had to break the news to couples that they won't be going to have a pipe organ. There's a keyboard and CDs, but it's not the same. It's just been very demoralising."

Repairs to the roof above the organ will cost around £80,000, with the damage to the organ put at up to £30,000.

Rev Mattocks appealed to couples who had married at the church to offer donations to help with the repairs. Donations can be made on 01902 746737.