The Telegraph & Argus exclusively reported how thieves took three stones from the Old Bell Chapel, also known as the Bronte Bell Chapel, opposite St James Church on Thornton Road, Thornton, last October.

The crime was described as ‘despicable’ by police and was believed to have been committed to get at the Yorkshire Stone.

Now a limited edition plate with a painting by watercolour artist, Ashley Jackson, of the Old Bell Chapel’s East Wall, has gone on sale at £24.99 each to raise the cash to replace the stone.

More than 100 plates have already been sold, with a further 220 still available.

Church warden Steven Stanworth, who discovered the original damage, said thieves had not returned since.

The issue about heritage sites being plundered by criminals will form part of a BBC 1 documentary later this year and the production team have been filming at the Old Bell Chapel to include the graveyard theft in the programme.

Mr Stanworth said: “We were having a poetry day on Friday with Lyn Cunliffe, the poetry reader from Hathaways in Haworth, a company which specialises in historical re-enactment and entertainment, and Mr Jackson was also there.

“They presented their works to support the fundraising efforts of the Bronte Bell Chapel Action Group.

“The production team was asking us about our plates and we told them we want to sell them all to get money to replace the gravestones.

“We have not had any problems with thefts since last year because people are now more aware of it.

“The plates are limited edition and we have some in Haworth Parsonage and at St James Church.

“We were talking about the effect the theft had on volunteers, but we have dealt with it now and moved on.

“We have dealt with it positively and we hope that shows in the programme.”