Gloucestershire Police are appealing for information following the theft of brassware from a church in Framilode, Frampton On Severn.

On January 12, thieves broke into St. Peter's Church and stole various items. The theft occurred just months after the parish spent £85,000 on restoration work.

Items stolen included six Victorian candlesticks from the altar and lectern, the processional cross, handles from the front door and a tap which was broken off outside, leaving water flowing everywhere.

The Rev Vernon Lidstone, Honorary Assistant Priest for Severnside South Benefice, said: "The stolen items have been in the church ever since it was built in 1854 and are extremely beautiful. It's very sad and all the more poignant as we have just celebrated our 160th anniversary."

He added: “Around four years ago we started a renovation project, raised £85,000 and had just got the whole church looking particularly brilliant.

“It’s really sad. The items have been in the church ever since it was built and they were very much part of it.”

A Facebook page for the church includes photos of the stolen items with an appeal for people to look out for them in reclamation yards, auctions and scrap yards. The post ends: “The church looks bare without them, sad to relate.”

And an entry a few days later adds: “The Police have taken a real interest in our theft – let’s hope we get all the things back!”

The church has been described as ‘the prettiest in Gloucestershire’. It was designed in the mid-Victorian trend for Italianate style for workers of the Darrell estate. When it was consecrated in 1854 its walls were covered in intricate paintwork, some of which survived a purge of white paint in the early 1900s.

It is believed that the thefts happened on Monday, January 12. Gloucestershire Police would like to hear from anyone with any information relating to the theft or who recognises any of the items stolen. Witnesses should call 101 quoting incident number 264 of January 12, 2015.