Military memorial plaques returned to church

The 93kg (205lbs) plaques, which are 105 years old, were stolen from Christ Church in Luton Road, Chatham

Two military memorial plaques stolen from a church in Kent have been restored and returned.

The 105-year-old plaques, which were stolen from Christ Church in Luton Road, Chatham on 23 May, were recovered less than a week later and are now back in their "rightful place", Kent Police said.

The force made a number of arrests after the theft and said three people remained on bail, with a further three released under investigation.

Insp Paul Diddams, of Medway community safety unit, said: "It was touching to see the strength of feeling as they were returned."

Kent Police recovered both plaques from separate Essex scrapyards soon after they were stolen, but one was substantially broken.

Priest in charge the Reverend Andrea Leonard previously told BBC Radio Kent she had asked BBC programme The Repair Shop to help fix the damage.