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Church wins battle to be bat-free

by Paul Wilkinson

AN ANCIENT church that was closed after an invasion of bats is to reopen for Advent and Christmas services.

Almost 1000 years of uninter­rupted worship ended in August, when the congregation of St Hilda’s, Ellerburn, near Pickering, in North Yorkshire, lost a decade-long battle to evict the protected Natterer’s bats that were fouling the pews and altar.

The church raised nearly £10,000 to create alternative homes for the bats, but, as it is an offence ...

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Thu 23 May 13 @ 12:33
Story just up on our website - Bishop of #Woolwich expresses shock at murder of soldier: http://t.co/vRsNn987Ln

Thu 23 May 13 @ 9:46
London faith representatives deplore #Woolwich attack: http://t.co/HWl9dyL3aA