A Mearns village was in shock this week after the theft of its church bell.
The 200-year-old bell which has rung regularly for Sunday service in Marykirk has disappeared in a theft which residents say has sickened them.
The bell was hung in front of the church on a free-standing bracket and was found missing on Tuesday.
The bell is described as being about 18 inches in diameter and 16 inches in height, and of unpolished brass or bronze with two machined rings at the lower end.
It does not have any distinguishing marks or engraving.
Reverend Ronnie Gall said, “The bell is as old as the present church building, but it had to be brought down from the belfry when the stonework became unstable.
“It was brought lower down and put on the bracket, which is around six or seven feet high.
“There it’s been all this time, quite safe, and rung for the morning service by the church officer.”
The minister was convinced the thieves were opportunists who had spotted it in the passing.
He said, “They would have had to undo the bolts fixing the bell to the bracket.
“Considering its weight, removing it would have required at least three people.
“They will have taken it for scrap value. I am pretty certain nobody local could have done this.”
Chris Rushbridge, whose wife is a church elder, said, “This is not the kind of thing you expect in Marykirk but criminals are stooping ever lower.”
A Grampian Police spokesman said, “This is a very unusual crime, but the fact it’s a theft of church property is pretty low.”