AS heists go, it was hardly on the scale of the Great Train Robbery or Brinks Mat, but it was just as audacious and daring.

Thieves sneaked into a Bartley Green church and stole its bell.

Standing 3ft high and weighing a hefty 3cwt, it would have taken three strong men to lift it - and then a van to spirit it away.

The unusual theft took place at St Michael and All Angels' Church in Field Lane.

Vicar Colin Mansley said it was a bitter blow for the church, which had always hankered after its own bell.

Although St Michael's, which was built in 1966, doesn't have a tower to hang the bell in, Mr Mansley said he had planned to suspend it in a frame so it could be rung.

Mr Mansley said the bell had been given to them by St Bartholomew's Church in Allens Cross, Northfield, which was demolished earlier this year.

Before then it had been in St Mark's in Ladywood since the 1950s and was worth about #3,000. Mr Mansley said the bell disappeared from the church hall while they were having some renovation work done.

"The doors were open to let the builders and the scaffolders come and go and I suppose anyone could have walked in during that time and taken it," he said.

"But it's not something you can hide under your coat and I like to think someone would have noticed it being taken.

"It is extremely heavy and required three strong men to lift it - and then the thieves would have needed a van to move it."

He said police had told him the bell would probably be melted down and had a scrap value of around #600.

"I'm realistic enough to know we probably won't get it back," he said. "But I just feel sad because it was part of the history of St Bartholomew's and now it's gone."

Anyone with information about the bell's whereabouts is asked to contact Bournville Lane police on 0845 113 5000.

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