Thieves have struck again in Thornton pinching yet more Yorkshire Stone just metres away from the house where the Bronte sisters were born.

The theft of seven flagstones from the pathway outside 78 Market Street was discovered by Steven Stanworth, the chairman of the Bronte Birthplace Trust 2012, as he gave an interview in Market Street on Wednesday.

Mr Stanworth blasted the vandals, claiming they must be part of an organised gang after three gravestones were taken from the Old Bell Chapel, which also has Bronte links, last week. Mr Stanworth, also the church warden at the Chapel, said yet another part of the district’s history had been taken away.

“The community need to take notice and be vigilant and not just in quiet areas. Market Street is the main thoroughfare through Thornton and anything suspicious needs reporting,” he said.

The Telegraph & Argus exclusively revealed on Monday how three ancient gravestones were taken last Friday leading to police patrolling the graveyard.

Mr Stanworth is now desperately trying to raise funds to increase security at the cemetery. He is also still trying to track down the possible descendants of those whose headstones were taken and they include a Mary Ann Dobson, who died in 1853, and whose parents, Hannah Abbott and James Abbott, died in 1857 and 1875 respectively.

The second one belonged to John and Mary Pickles and their five children, who all died in the 1800s.

Sergeant Alastair Milner of the Bradford North Neighbourhood Policing Team said: “We are not ruling out a link to the recent theft from the church grounds and we are making enquiries to trace those responsible.

“If you have been offered stone recently or are suspicious in any way, you should contact us on the non-emergency number 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111”