Vicar bereft over theft of church lectern eagle

A vicar has said he feels "bereft" and "like something's been amputated" after the theft of an eagle from his church's Victorian brass lectern.

The Reverend Matthew Tomlinson from St Augustine's Church in Edgbaston, Birmingham, said CCTV images showed a man walking into the church on Monday morning and carrying it off.

He said the lectern was as old as the church itself, which opened in 1868.

The vicar also said he believed the theft had been planned, because the man walked straight in and out in less than two minutes and was carrying a blanket to cover the object.

Mr Tomlinson said he had been vicar at the church for 24 years and was "proud to have the church open every day," but had never had anything of this significance taken before.

He said the theft happened at about 11:00 BST and was hoping someone may have seen the man emerge from the church with the "very heavy" item.

He believes the thief would have needed a car to transport it and the crime has been reported to West Midlands Police.