AN ASTLEY church has been extensively damaged by suspected arsonists -- 41 years after the original church was burnt down in a separate fire attack.

Worshippers at St Stephen's Church, on Manchester Road, have been left with tens of thousands of pounds worth of fire damage after intruders are thought to have started a fire in the vestry in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The section containing the vestry, choir vestry and toilets were completely gutted and depending on a structural inspection, may have to be demolished.

Irreplaceable back copies of the parish magazine -- St Stephen's have one of the oldest running church magazines --dating back to the 1830s until the present day have also been lost.

And a question mark hangs over whether the church records have survived, as salvagers have not yet been able to open the safe where they are kept.

Rev Jonathan Carmyllie, the priest in charge of the church, said he was determined to remain optimistic: "What we have lost can be replaced -- apart from the magazines. Nobody was injured and we are hoping in the end we will be able to repair all the damage, although it will take a long time."

Fire doors prevented the blaze spreading into the church itself, although it will need to be redecorated because of smoke damage.

And the church silver has been safely recovered from a fire-proof safe. Mr Carmyllie said the church was insured so repairs will not cost them anything in financial terms.

Early on Sunday morning the fire was discovered by two passing police officers who noticed smoke and raised the alarm.

A local resident told the Journal that the surrounding area was littered with cans and bottles.

Ironically, in 1961 the original St Stephen's Church was burnt down after an arson attack and the present building was constructed close by.

Mr Carmyllie said: "It has raised some very raw memories for many people -- as a lot of people who were around in 1961 are of course still around today.

"But this time, although the fire was extensive it is not nearly as extensive."

A police investigation is now underway into the incident.