Candles at a 900-year-old parish church are having to be lit using a motorised pulley because officials said using a stepladder was too dangerous.
Church officials at Wymondham Abbey in Norfolk said a stepladder had been used to reach the church chandelier since its installation 250 years ago.
The church council was told two years ago a ladder breached health and safety rules and has now installed the pulley.
The £6,000 system will be used for the first time over Easter.
No accidents yet
Howard Thomas, from the abbey's parochial church council, said: "Health and safety is a very good thing for workmen on roofs and so on but I think a lot of people think it has now gone right over the top.
"The chandelier is probably about 12ft off the ground and none of us at the church are athletes.
"But people have been using steps since it was installed 250 years ago and as far as I know there have been no accidents."
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