Thieves have stolen more than £40,000 worth of lead from a church linked to the late Princess Diana.
Police say they stole around 12 tonnes of lead from St Mary's Church in Brington, Northamptonshire, which covered more than 3,000 square foot in total.
Princess Diana's father, the 8th Earl Spencer, is buried at St Mary's, as well as the great-great-grandfater of the US President George Washington.
St Mary's Brington is near the royal ancestral seat of Althorp, which is currently owned by Princess Diana's brother Charles, 9th Earl Spencer.
Revd Sue Kipling, rector of St Mary's Brington, told the BBC: "It's a huge loss to us. It will cost more than £40,000 to replace.
"You can now see the sunlight coming into the church through the roof, although the Althorp estate has provided tarpaulin to protect the inside of the building in the short term."
Mrs Kipling also said a church service was held in response to the theft, where the thieves were specifically prayed for.
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Article by Aaron James
Tola Mbakwe is a multimedia journalist for Premier.
