thieves caused more than £5,000 damage to a school roof before eagle-eyed neighbours alerted police.

The crooks risked their lives to climb on to the apex of Grove Wood Primary School, in Rayleigh , to try to steal lead flashing in full view of neighbouring homes.

A police helicopter and officers with sniffer dogs raced to the area, around Grove Road, as they hunted for the crooks, before finding a man hiding in a bush.

Jason Norman, 40, the school’s site manager, received a call at about 12.30am on Friday and went to the scene.

He said: “One of the neighbours heard some people laughing and joking on the school roof and it woke them up.

“When they looked out, these people were stripping the lead off the roof, so they called the police.

“They had the helicopter up. There were two dog units and police everywhere. “They created a cordon around the school.”

The lead was ruined as the thieves ripped out the nails holding it to the roof.

The thieves also put their feet through the roof into the main hall, causing three holes. The damage is estimated at £5,000.

Mr Norman said: “They don’t realise the risks they’ve taken just to get scrap lead off the roof – it’s ridiculous.”

It appears the same gang had tried to steal lead from Holy Trinity Church, in Rectory Garth, an hour earlier. But they triggered the alarms and fled.

Mr Norman added: “They don’t realise what upheaval they cause. “We have to try to get this repaired and deal with all the insurance costs.” Mr Norman wanted to thank the neighbours who called 999, and the police for their response.

Three people, including a 22-year-old man from Southend, have been arrested on suspicion of theft.