 The church has been the scene of several arson attacks in the past |
An elderly woman from Leicester says she is devastated after the church where she worshipped for more than 80 years was destroyed by fire. Eighty firefighters were called to St Augustine's church on Fosse Road North at 1550 BST on Tuesday.
A nearby pub and eight homes in Newport Street were evacuated.
The cause of the fire is still unknown, but officials say the church has been targeted by arsonists on several occasions.
The church had been closed for more than three years and was due to be converted into flats.
Former parishioner Hilda Davies told how St Augustine's played an important role in her life.
She said: "I'd been in the choir, I'd played for the hymns, I'd been a Sunday school teacher and a Sunday school superintendent on the PCC - you name it, I've done it.
"I nearly cried when they phoned and told me, but of course it's done, isn't it?
"I've got to accept it."
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