Quake vicar moves to new location

The parishioners moved to a nearby village

A Leicestershire church closed after an earthquake damaged its steeple moved services to a nearby village on Sunday.

St Mary Magdalene in Waltham on the Wolds had 30ft (9m) cracks appear in its stonework after Wednesday's tremor, which was felt across much of England.

The 13th Century church and its grounds have been closed off while attempts are made to secure the stone structure.

The Mothering Sunday service was moved to a church in nearby Stonesby, the Reverend Beverley Stark said.

Some debris dislodged by the earthquake fell into the church and damaged some of the bells.

Rev Stark said workers were not able to construct temporary scaffolding on the church at the weekend because of high winds.

"It is going to be an expensive repair. It is a question of getting the insurance assessors to come and getting a quote to have it mended as soon as we can."

One person was injured in the 5.2-magnitude earthquake which was centred on Market Rasen in Lincolnshire.