Did WW2 soldiers take pot shots at church spire?
It's believed a long-hidden secret from WW2 has been revealed as a globe on top of a 240ft church spire was found riddled with bullet holes.
It's 80 or more years since the globe at St Mary and the Holy Rood Church in Donington came down for maintenance.
Restorers were amazed to find evidence of secret snipers, who were taking pot shots at the globe for target practice.
Jane Pearson, the parochial church council treasurer, said at least 22 bullet holes were found.
"We understand the globe is too high up for it to have been shotgun pellets because they would not have penetrated."
Jane said it's suggested the bullet holes date back to the wartime - and, perhaps when soldiers had enjoyed a beer or two, they would aim their rifles at the globe.
She said: "There were 22 bullet holes at least in it, now whether that's 11 in and 11 out I can't tell you."
The bullet holes were too small for anyone to see from the ground and Jane says no-one would have known but for the re-gilding, which was generously paid for by two donors.
The re-gilded globe - and the cockerel that stands on it - were put back on their lofty perch by steeplejacks on Monday.
Steeplejacks have been carrying out routine, minor repairs to the spire and, while they were working, it was suggested the globe and cockerel could be re-gilded.
Both the globe and the cockerel had weathered to a green-ish grey and, for many villagers, it will be the first time they have seen them sparkling from the top of the church.
Jane said: "If they are up there for another 80 years, none of us will see them so close again. It's a once in a lifetime thing."
The re-gilding allowed scores of Donington children to leap into the history books in June as they jumped over the cockerel in the churchyard - giving them bragging rights for years to come.
Jane said then: "When it's back in the air, the kids can point to it and say 'I jumped over that cockerel'."
Donington's wartime Home Guard used the church tower in their wartime role of sighting the enemy.
* St Mary and the Holy Rood has a museum and artefacts relating to Donington's most famous son, Matthew Flinders, who mapped the coast of Australia and gave the country its name.
Matthew's remains were found in a London graveyard early this year and his descendants have united with villagers in the hope that a final resting place will be found for him inside the church.
Previously ...
Historic day at Donington Church as scores leap the cockerel from the spire
