AN APPEAL has been launched following the theft of a 130-year-old church bell in Flintshire. 

The bell has been stolen from St Peters Church, in Bagillt, which closed its doors as a place of worship over a decade ago. 

In 2019, it was taken over by Neil Roberts who turned into a community space and cafe. 

He was dismayed to hear about the theft of the bell, and is appealing for people to be on the look-out for it. 

"We have some scaffolding on the side of the church, whoever took it must have climbed up there and then scrambled onto the roof," Neil said.

"There is CCTV covering the area that we are in the proccess of reviewing, and the matter has been reported to the police. We think the theft took place some time between last Thursday and Friday."

He added: "We're offering a reward for information that could lead us to getting the bell back. And we're urging scrap merchants to be on the look-out for it.

"We really hope we can get it back, it's been at the church for 130 years and it would be a crying shame for it to be lost forever. It's a piece of history gone."

After news of the theft was shared on local social media groups, people commented expressing their disgust at the theft. 

One person described those responsible as "the lowest of the low". Another added: "Why take a piece of history?"

Anyone with information relating to theft can contact North Wales Police quoting reference SD-8953-24-6060-IR01.