Three men have been charged in connection with a series of lead thefts from churches across Somerset, including from St Mary's Church in Meare.

In a joint investigation with Lincolnshire Police, the three men have been charged with conspiracy to steal between August 2018 and March 2020. The charge partly relates to 11 offences of theft from churches in the force area

Paul Buica, aged 25, of George Street, Birmingham; Constantine Motescu, aged 31, of The Stebbing, Sutton Hill, Telford; and Laurentiu Sucea, aged 37, also of George Street, Birmingham, will next appear before Lincoln Magistrates' Court on June 11.

The thefts they have been charged with include:

• Church of St Mary, Chesterblade, between August 21 and 28 2019
• Church of St Edward King and Martyr, Goathurst, between December 18 and 19 2019
• Church of the Holy Cross, Middlezoy, between February 11 and 12 2020
• St Mary's Church, Meare, between February 14 and 15 2019
• St Mary's Church, Barrington, between February 18 and 19 2020
• St Peter's Church, Ilton, between February 20 and 21 2020
• St Giles' Church, Bradford-on-Tone, between February 26 and 27 2020
• Church of St Andrew and St Mary, Pitminster, between February 27 and 28 2020
• St John the Baptist Church, Wellington, between February 28 and 29 2020
• St Peter and St Paul's Church, South Petherton, between March 4 and 5 2020
• Church of St Andrew and St Mary, Pitminster, on March 9 2020