Fire outside Fleet Parish Church where historic thatched gateway has been destroyed

Church and village leaders in Fleet are trying to find out how a historic thatched gateway to its church was destroyed by fire.

The gateway, or lych gate, leading to the entrance of St Mary Magdalene Church, off Church End, was destroyed during the early hours of Friday, July 19.

Officials from the church told Spalding Today that the fire was likely to have happened between 4am and 5am last Friday, although police were not alerted until later during the day.

Churchwarden Geoff De Roux said: "I went to open the church last Friday as electricians were coming to check the building.

"I saw that the thatched lych gate had been burned down and then covered with netting.

"We've investigated it but until we have confirmation as to whether or not it was set alight on purpose, we won't be able to get any further in finding out how it happened."