A church forced to close after being robbed by thieves has launched a fundraiser in a bid to reopen their doors. 

St Helen's Church in Plungar, Leicestershire, was targeted by thieves in February 2019.

It was one of five churches across the county targeted by thieves in just four weeks.

Villagers have launched a campaign to fund the £60,000 needed to repair the building, which has further deteriorated after three years with a leaking roof. 

So far, they have managed to raise just shy of £5,000. Insurance may cover half of the bill, but the group need to raise another £25,000 in donations. 

Villager Dr Vicky Kemp, told BBC News: "The current state of the church is poor because of leakages and the longer it takes for us to raise funds, the more damage will be done to the interior of our church.

"We are opening windows to try and aid ventilation but we have noticed that some timbers are starting to rot.

"A new roof will mean that the church can once again be an important meeting place for the people of Plungar.

"We want the church to be restored to its former glory so that the people can enjoy this lovely building for many years to come."