A HISTORIC medieval figurative brass plaque has been stolen from a Hampshire church.

The plaque dates back more than 400 years and was taken from the wall of St Mary’s Church in Itchen Stoke near Alresford.

It depicts a standing woman and was one of the few remaining items from the original medieval church which previously stood 200 metres south of the current site.

It is approximately 48cm tall and sits alongside a second wall-mounted brass of a kneeling woman.

The church is cared for by The Churches Conservation Trust (CCT) - the national charity protecting historic churches at risk.

The charity is appealing to locals for any information which may help in recovering the brass.

John Harvey who volunteers for the CCT discovered the brass was missing when he conducted his regular walk around to check the church.

Immediately he contacted staff at The Churches Conservation Trust who reported it to the police.

Mr Harvey said: “It’s such a shame. It’s a real disappointment when you walk into the church and see a big hole in the wall where the brass should be, especially when you know it is one of the last items we have left from the old church.’ Regional Director at The Churches Conservation Trust, Colin Shearer said: “Heritage crime is a national problem faced by many organisations and something that The Churches Conservation Trust is working hard to tackle.

“We feel extremely sad that something so valuable can be taken from the community that it belongs to and will do all that we can to help the police with their investigation in the hope that this valued item will be returned to its rightful place.”

Anyone with information about the theft, which happened on December 3, or who knows where the plaque is should contact Alton Police on 101 or alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.