A CEREMONIAL chair, used by the Bishop of Worcester and worth £2,000, has been stolen from a church in the grounds of Hagley Hall.

The Bishop’s Chair was taken from the altar at St John The Baptist Church between 8pm on Sunday June 5 and 2pm on Saturday June 11.

The artefact is a large wooden chair with a high back made of dark wood, with a red velvet back and seat. It has barley twist legs and barley twists on the back rest.

It was used by the Bishop of Worcester while attending services at the church.

It could have been carried out of the church, but a vehicle would have been needed to transport it.

Witnesses or anyone with information – including anyone who saw the chair being removed but did not realise it was being stolen - are asked to call Sergeant Andy Millwood at West Mercia Police on 0300 333 3000 quoting incident 344-s-120611.

Alternatively people can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.