A VILLAGE hall has been targeted by thieves, who stole 20 York stone capping slabs from an entrance wall.

The theft took place at Chichester Hall on the A283 Petworth Road, in Witley, between midday on September 27 and 11.30am on September 28. Police have appealed for anyone with information to get in touch.

A Surrey Police spokesman said: “Waverley has in the past suffered from a number of thefts of York stone in the borough with a number of incidents recently in rural areas of West Surrey.

“I would encourage residents and businesses to be on their guard against unusual activity and recommend people keep an eye on surrounding properties.

“If you see anyone working in a garden and are suspicious of their activity take a note of any vehicles they are using, as well as descriptions of any individuals and ring the police immediately.

Chichester Hall, which was gifted to the village, is owned by a private trust which will be left to foot the bill for increased insurance premiums.

“It’s really upsetting,” bookings secretary Helen Johnson told The Herald.

“We all work for the hall as volunteers and it is used by the local community.

“It was a heartless thing to do and it has ruined the entrance. This is the fourth time in eight years that we have had York stone stolen from our wall.

“The last time we replaced some of the wall with stone that looked like the same quality and those have been left so it was clearly done to order.

“We have done everything we could and had the stones watermarked.

“We are now thinking of putting up CCTV.”

There was a public outcry in 2008, when thieves dug up York stone paving slabs just up the road from Witley War Memorial’s garden of remembrance.