A LOCAL congregation will be ringing in the changes . . . but not all for the good, due to ruthless thieves who stole the church bell.

Renovation work is being carried out on the church tower at Lowton St Mary's and the active crooks scaled the scaffold to reach the two hundredweight bell.

The bell, which has been in the tower since the church was built, 130 years ago, was then cut loose and thrown by the thieves to the ground.

It is thought the thugs struck last weekend and the Rev Bob Britton of St Mary's is appealing for anyone who knows its whereabouts to bring it back.

He said: "The tower was being renovated, before we built a Dunblane Memorial Garden below it. I can not believe this has happened. They obviously climbed the scaffold, complete with hacksaws to get it down.

"It seems to me as though it must have been stolen to order, because I can not think where on earth people could put such a large sized bell otherwise.

"I have no idea how much it is worth, or what it will take to replace it. The bell has been there since 1862 when the church was built."

Anyone who knows of its whereabouts should contact Lowton Police on 0161 872 5050, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

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