The roof timbers in the church will be replaced

The roof and first floor of Holy Trinity Church in Little Dawley in Telford were seriously damaged in the fire which broke out in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Reverend Stuart Deane said the church played an important part in the community.

He said: "We're absolutely devastated to discover anyone in our community would want to do such an awful thing.

"So we're saddened that this has happened to a lovely church that's been at the centre of our community in Dawley for many, many years."

A spokesman form Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service said the fire badly damaged the roof timbers which will have to be replaced.

The stained glass window depicting St Cecilia, the patron saint of music, escaped damage but the 18th Century church organ could be beyond repair.

Reverend Deane said: "It's been a central piece of our musicianship here and we are very concerned about the organ. It's been a wonderful instrument.

"We are going to have to look into that seriously and investigate whether it can in fact be restored. We really hope that is the case."

An investigation is under way by the fire service in Shropshire into how the fire began.