A THIEF posed as a church architecture student before stealing cash and a collection plate from a Blackburn church.

The theft took place at St Luke's with St Philip's Church, Lansdowne Street, half an hour before the 9am Sunday service, when a man walked into the vestry, stole the key to the safe and took £10 and the plate.

The thief was stopped by church warden Chris Hope as he was leaving the church, but claimed to be studying church architecture at Blackburn College before making off.

Mr Hope, who was alone in the church at the time preparing for the first of the Sunday services, said he only realised after the man had left the church that the cash had been taken.

He added: "He must have gone into the vestry and taken the safe key from my bunch which were, unfortunately, lying on the desk then he'd gone straight to the safe.

"It was only when I heard a noise that I went to challenge him, but he just said he was a student and that he would get in touch with the vicar and then he left.

"I don't know what the world's coming to when someone can just walk into a church and steal things. This chap obviously knew what he was doing as wel,l because he knew which key to take from the bunch and he went straight to the safe. Luckily, there wasn't very much in there."

Police confirmed they were investigating a theft at the church and described the thief as tall, thin and wearing dark clothing.

Anybody with information should call Blackburn CID on 01254 353569 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.