A LANDMARK which has guided the faithful to church for decades has probably now been melted down for scrap metal.

That is the fear over the seven-foot cast iron illuminated lantern, which has stood outside St Bartholomew's Church, in Albert Road, Colne, for many years.

While police have placed a nominal value on the lantern of around £300, it is thought that the artefact will be irreplaceable.

The Rev Tony Rindl, team leader at St Bartholomew's, said: "We believe that it was stolen sometime between 10pm on Thursday night and 10am the following morning.

"One of our church members attended a show at the Hippodrome on Thursday that night and as she was walking past the church she noticed how beautiful the colours of the leaves were looking with the light from the lantern.

"And it had gone by the time we opened up the church for a coffee morning the following day."

The lantern features on many picture postcard images of St Bartholomew's and Colne.

"We haven't even started to think about replacing it yet - and I don't know how you could replace it really," said Mr Rindl.

"Anything we could replace it with would be a poor reflection of what stood there previously."

Church leaders are hoping that CCTV footage can provide some clues as to who stole the imposing lantern.

Mr Rindl added: "I have spoken to the police about it. There is a CCTV camera opposite the town hall so we are hoping that something might come from that.

"Even if it does not show who actually took the lantern, it must have picked up it being loaded into a van."

PC Andy Baldwin, of Colne Police, said the lantern was believed to have been stolen between 10pm on Thursday and 11.30am on Friday.

Police are investigating the theft and any witnesses are asked to contact officers on 01282 425001.

The church is the oldest building in Colne, having been originally constructed in 1122 and rebuilt in the 16th and 19th centuries.