A CHURCH that was torched by arsonists has had its roof repaired for free - and the vandals who started the fire have been forgiven.

Wibsey Methodist Church, in School Lane, was badly damaged after being set ablaze earlier this month.

However, in the aftermath of the fire, a poster adorned with hearts was put up outside the church and read: ‘To the vandals. We forgive you. Come and worship with us.’

A spokesman for the church said: “We put the sign up because that is what we believe as Christians. We will forgive the person.

“I think they would be welcome. I don’t think they would ever come, but it would be interesting.

“And it would be good for them to see what they have done.”

The goodwill did not end with the poster, as a local roofer repaired the church’s roof - which was damaged in the fire - free of charge.

James Stringer, of J and S Roofing, has lived in Wibsey all his life and went to the church and adjacent school as a child.

The 32-year-old said: “I saw it on Facebook and thought, with me living in Wibsey all my life, it was something I could do to help.

“I wanted to give something back as a little bit of a gift.”

Mr Stringer said the job would usually have cost in the region of £500, and added: “At the end of the day it’s not all about the money.

“If I can help my community , then why not? I didn’t mind doing it.”

A church spokesman said: “He attended the church as a youngster and he was just devastated by what he saw. He sent an email on Facebook to say he would repair it free of charge.

“We really want to thank him for his fantastic generosity. This is the sort of thing you see on TV - you don’t expect it in real life.”

Police started an arson investigation after the fire, which happened at about 8.30pm on August 13.

Witnesses reported seeing four people on the church roof shortly before the fire started.

It took crews from Odsal and Bradford fire stations two hours to get the blaze under control.

Alan Walsh, who lives nearby, said at the time: “I’ve just heard about what happened. My grandkids go to scouts there. One of them has just got back from a scout jamboree in Essex with them and loved it. It’ll be awful if they can’t meet up for awhile.

“It’s a community building, not just a church. I heard it was kids who started it but that’s the first bother I’ve ever known here in all the 18 years I lived here.”

Another man who is a neighbour to the church but did not want to be named said: “I saw some kids mucking about on the roof last night. About an hour later there were fire engines. Someone told me it was kids who did it. There will be a lot of upset people.”

Anyone with information should call the police on the non-emergency number 101 quoting the reference number 1649 of August 13.