Restoration chapel vandalised

The chapel was forced to close in 1985

The Bethesda Chapel in Hanley has been vandalised, just days after winning a place in the final of BBC television's Restoration programme.

The Bethesda Chapel won the Midlands heat of the Restoration campaign, which calls on the public to vote and help to save one historical building.

If the building wins the final, due to be held this month, it will be restored to its former glory with a £3m makeover.

But Staffordshire police said intruders had vandalised the building, ripping the stairs away from the pulpit and destroying cast-iron railings surrounding it.

Keep secure

Dr Jenny Freeman, the Director of the Historic Chapels Trust, which owns the building, said the vandalism showed how vulnerable the building now was.

"Everybody has tried to keep the building secure but it's very difficult, if you have an unoccupied building, to keep an eye on intruders," she said.

"I think security over the next few months is going to be a vital issue."

The chapel was chosen in a public vote beating a Birmingham coffin factory and a mill in Derbyshire.

It will join nine other regional finalists in the televised final on BBC2, which will be held at the Tower of London.

The chapel was built in 1819 and became the central place of worship for the Methodist New Connextion.

Over the years the congregation dwindled forcing the chapel's final closure in1985.