Burglars cause £5,000 damage to stained glass window at Shrewsbury church - to steal just £24

Church officers today spoke of their "bitter disappointment" after the raiders broke the window into St Marys Church – which has only recently been replaced following a previous break-in.

The criminals made off with just £24 in cash after trying to get into the donation boxes around the building.

St Mary's, the only complete medieval church in Shrewsbury, is renowned across the world for its stained glass.

Richard Milton, who manages the church building, said: "In order to gain access to the church they have smashed their way through the stained glass window dedicated to Saint Catherine.

"We had a similar burglary about two years ago and we have just managed to get the glass replaced in the same place. It is very frustrating."

In the previous raid, in May 2014, burglars escaped with £45, causing damage estimated at the time at up to £15,000.

Only six inches of the head of St Catherine remained in the panel, which had originally been between three and four feet high. It had been protected by iron grille work which the burglars prised off.

Police are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information about the latest damage to come forward.

Call 101 quoting incident number 192s of April 1. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or at crimestoppers-uk.org