THIEVES have stolen copper worth thousands of pounds from the roof of Basingstoke hospital.

They gained access to the roof of the main building in Aldermaston Road via scaffolding, which was in place for a project to replace the main water tanks.

The copper was part of the lightning protection system and will cost £4,000 to replace.

The theft took place over last weekend.

Paul Bond, estates manager at the hospital said: “If the building had been hit by a lightning strike without this protection in place there could have been serious consequences either through fire damage or damage to the systems within the building.”

Police are now investigating.