A rector has described the shock she felt after discovering one of her churches had been the scene of a burglary.

Reverend Brenda Stewart, rector of St Nicholas Church in Wells, was speaking after hundreds of pounds in cash was stolen from it over the weekend of October 14/15.

Police were called to the coastal church following reports of a burglary.

Fakenham & Wells Times: Rev Brenda Stewart leading David Cox's funeral service at Cromer CrematoriumRev Brenda Stewart leading David Cox's funeral service at Cromer Crematorium (Image: Danielle Booden)The incident happened between 6pm on Saturday, October 14 and 10am the next day when a number of items were taken including £200 in cash.

Rev Stewart said: “When I arrived on the morning from a service in Holkham and saw people walking away from the church, not towards it, I was a bit surprised and then discovered what had happened when I went inside.

“One of the women who was helping to set up discovered the back door unlocked, and she told me how she thought it was a churchwarden who had arrived and was already inside.

"But she was the one who discovered the scene.

Fakenham & Wells Times: Inside the St Nicholas Church in Wells. The smashed-up wooden door in the foreground is the vestry door with the lock smashed out of it is where the safe wasInside the St Nicholas Church in Wells. The smashed-up wooden door in the foreground is the vestry door with the lock smashed out of it is where the safe was (Image: Brenda Stewart)“I feel so sorry for my team as this has given them a lot of work to do sorting out the insurance claims and keeping the church running. It is something we could have done without.”

That Sunday's service at the grade II listed 13th-century building was cancelled.

The shocked rector said the money taken was from donations and the collection plate over a two-week period, used for the day-to-day running of the church.

It was due to be counted and deposited into its bank account within the next couple of days.

Fakenham & Wells Times: St Nicholas Church in Wells-next-the-SeaSt Nicholas Church in Wells-next-the-Sea (Image: Brenda Stewart)

Since then, the Holy Communion has had a mixture of items the thieves did not take, with others borrowed from its sister church at Warham - as silver chalices were among the items taken from the church.

Restoration of the church tower has just begun following a donation from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

No damage was done to the main body of the church building.

Police enquiries are ongoing.