Streaming kit stolen from church in Northampton

Equipment used to stream services during lockdown for those shielding and the elderly has been stolen from a church in Northampton.

A video camera and other items worth more than £500 were taken from Anglican Church All Saints' shortly before 7 PM on Wednesday August 19.

Father Oliver Coss said: "During lockdown, live streams and online worship have been vital to maintaining some normality."

He says the theft comes at a time of "intense financial difficulty".

Posting CCTV footage of a person seen in the church at the time of the theft on social media, Father Coss wrote: "I spent part of our open hours this evening testing our live-streaming equipment so that Sunday's broadcast wouldn't be interrupted."

He said a man, was seen entering the church by a side door shortly before 7 PM.

Items worth hundreds of pounds were then found to be missing.

He added: "We should very much like them back."

Though the public had been allowed back in the church since 5 July, Father Coss said: "It has been a key undertaking to those who've continued to shield themselves that we would continue as we have for the foreseeable future.

"I'm sorry to say that this theft, coming at a time of intense financial difficulty for us, makes that very difficult."

The church has passed the pictures on to police and is appealing for the return of the items.