Worshippers are celebrating after Telegraph & Argus readers helped track down two invaluable artefacts, stolen in a raid on their church.

The 102-year-old brass offertory plate and a brass altar cross, dating back to the 1920s, were taken after burglars kicked in the doors of John the Baptist Church in Clayton last week.

Church warden Maureen Kershaw feared the historic items would be lost forever, and made an emotional appeal for their return through the T&A.

Within a few hours of the story hitting the streets, police had received a call from a stall-holder in John Street Market who had been offered the items for just £2.50.

And today police completed the happy ending by returning the items to their rightful owners.

Mrs Kershaw said: "We are absolutely over the moon. Everyone has been praying for their return and it looks to have worked.

"The offertory plate is more than a century old and the altar cross dates back to the 1920s - you can't put a price on things like that."

Although the items have been returned the church still faces a bill of £157 to repair the damaged doors and change the locks.

Sergeant Roy Wensley of Toller Lane Police said: "Within a few hours of the article appearing in the Telegraph & Argus my phone was red hot.

"We had a call from someone at John Street Market and it turned out these 'priceless' items had been sold on for just £2.50."

Police are continuing their inquiries into the burglary and the identity of the thieves. Anyone with information is asked to contact Sgt Wensley at Toller Lane Police station on Bradford 376219.

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