|PIC1|The Rev Canon Mark Rylands, who was named on Tuesday as the next Bishop of Shrewsbury in the Diocese of Lichfield, made his comments after visiting the Telford laboratories in which the security material is produced.

SmartWater is an invisible liquid which can be painted onto valuables, including roofing lead, and provides a unique forensic marking. The security system is invisible to the naked-eye but shows up under ultra violet lights and provides police with evidence showing not just that metal has been stolen but even proving where the material was stolen from.

All Church of England churches have been supplied with SmartWater by the Ecclesiastical Insurance Group after a record-breaking spate of thefts from church roofs, described as the biggest asset stripping of churches since the Reformation.

"When lead is stolen from church roofs it is sold on for a few pounds, but the damage caused to our nation’s historic buildings often runs into tens of thousands of pounds and although our churches are insured, metal theft claims are capped resulting in churchgoers having to foot the bill, diverting money and resources away from the church’s real mission and ministry to their communities," said Rev Ryland.

He said the level of thefts had reduced since SmartWater was rolled out to Church of England churches but added that there were still far too many taking place and the thieves are finding places to the lead on.

"Scrap metal dealers should be responsible for checking all material they receive for SmartWater," he continued.

"If this was a condition of their licence they wouldn’t be able to hide behind an excuse of ‘received in good faith’ when stolen metal is detected by police undertaking routine checks.

"If scrap metal dealers won’t take the initiative themselves, then they must be held responsible for stolen metal found on their premises."