COLD-HEARTED thieves braved sub-zero conditions to steal lead from a Halesowen Primary School’s roof forcing 170 children off school.

The thieves clambered on the roof of Halesowen Church of England Primary School on Monday night and stripped a 32 foot long lead section leaving the school open to the elements.

When snow melted water cascaded into the school causing even more damage to the interior of the school.

A Dudley Council spokesman said: “Halesowen C of E Primary School was closed on Wednesday following a roof leak caused by the recent snowfall.

“It would appear the leak was due to theft of lead from the roof but repairs have now been carried out to enable the school to re-open on Thursday."

The latest incident is the third time this term Halesowen Church of England Primary School has been targeted by metal thieves.

Yesterday, the growing problem of metal thefts was raised in Parliament by Sandwell MP Tom Watson.

He said: “Metal thieves are eating away at key parts of the UK’s infrastructure. They are doing it day in day out, in towns and cities up and down the land.

“They’re causing many millions of pounds of damage to businesses and communities. They are the enemy within and they need to be stopped.”

The MP is calling for a change to the Scrap Metal Merchants Act 1964 which would prevent scrap yards buying metal for cash to stop the black market for stolen metals.