Shock after 600-year-old bell stolen from outside St James' Church in Dudley
A church bell which has been in Dudley for centuries has been stolen after brazen thieves broke into a church grounds.
The bell, which is thought to be 600 years old, was taken from St James' Church, in Wolverhampton Street.
The theft has left church leaders devastated and also scratching their heads about how such a heavy object could have been taken.
The crooks smashed through the church's main gates and ripped the bell away from its wooden structure.
The bell is believed to have been cast in Worcester in 1425. It was one of the original bells at Dudley's Top Church before moving to St James'.
It had to be removed over safety fears around 15 years ago but remained as a feature of the church grounds.
Church warden Gwen Taylor said: "Somebody has broken the chain on the main gate and carried it away.
"I don't know how, it took five people to take it outside.
"We had been coming through the side gates and the vicar noticed the chain was missing. She went to have a look and the bell had gone."
Mrs Taylor said church leaders were shocked when they discovered the bell had been taken.
"It is thought the metal contains bronze and so could have been targeted by the thieves so it could be melted down.
"Why? We are upset as it has been at the church a long time. It was just too heavy for the tower and had to taken out as it was unsafe."
The bell was stolen overnight between March 26 and 28.
Police have launched an appeal to 'return the bell to its rightful home'.
Anyone with information is asked to call West Midlands Police on 101.
