The numbers choosing to go 'champing', otherwise known as camping inside a church, have risen four fold.

As a quirky holiday alternative, campers are invited to spend the night inside a disused church.

The Churches Conservation Trust says the scheme saw 150 people take part in year one(2015) rising to 650 last year.

Speaking in the Times newspaper, a spokesperson for the Churches Conservation Trust said: "At first we thought it was completely mad.

"However, once we piloted the scheme we saw what a brilliant way it was to raise money and to get more visitors in.

"We didn't want people to see our churches as museum pieces. Instead, we wanted them to be living vibrant places."

Twelve churches will open their doors to the scheme between March and October this year.

Campers who take part are given no central heating or showers and prices range between £19 and £59.