A PAIR of have-a-go heroes who foiled a lead thief are about to feature on a new television show.

Programme makers for BBC One’s Fightback Britain spotted the exploits of the Rev Chris Colledge and neighbourhood watch stalwart Norman Decent in the Daily Echo after they camped out at church and helped police catch Andrew Miller.

Mr Colledge, who is co-ordinator of West Cliff Neighbourhood Watch, said: “Fightback Britain shows that people who care about their community are not prepared to accept crime.

“Churches are a dedicated place of worship and to steal from them is an evil and horrible thing to do.”

The programme, which showed motorbike shop owners stopping thieves in its first show last week, is scheduled to include Mr Colledge and Mr Decent on Monday at 8.30pm.

The pair spent two days filming with a crew earlier this year and re-enacting the night when they lay in wait at St Stephen’s Church in Bournemouth town centre.

They heard a noise and peeked out of a letter box to spot Millar shimmying up a drain pipe.

Miller, 37, then of Wimborne Road, Kinson, was collared by police and was jailed for two years after admitting two lead thefts from churches.

Mr College is no longer based at St Stephen’s, so some filming was done inside St Ambrose Church in Westbourne, Mr Decent, who is co-ordinator of Poole Hill Neighbourhood Watch, said they were filming for eight to nine hours each day.

He said: “What happened at the church shows there are still people who are prepared to have a go and make a difference.

“I think people should have a go provided it does not cause them harm.

“And if it wasn’t for us he would never have been caught.”