Police are investigating after the suspected theft of a religious statue, said to be worth £10,000, from the entrance of Ringmer's parish church.
Parishioners of St Mary The Virgin, the village's Anglican church, reported the loss on Tuesday, saying "Our beloved statue in the porch has been stolen".
The sculpture, in modern style, depicts a boy with outstretched arms running from his mother who stands behind him.
Although church leaders confirmed the statue comes from the 20th century, the wooden porch that housed it is 15th century.
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