Rosary beads blessed by the Pope have been stolen from a shrine at a Catholic Church in north Wales.

The gold and white beads were hanging from the arm of a statue at the church of Our Lady of Fatima at Bala.

Police said on Saturday that they are investigating whether a note in Welsh found nearby could be connected to the day-time theft.

The shrine to the Virgin Mary, including the rosary personally blessed by the Pope, was unveiled earlier this year.

The shrine was created by Welsh artists, for pilgrims from across Britain, who are unable to travel to the village of Fatima in Portugal.

Assassination attempt

It was there that 17,000 people said they witnessed the Virgin Mary.

The Pope believes that Our Lady of Fatima saved him from death in May 1981 after an assassination attempt.

This attempt at his life coincided with the anniversary of the first apparition of Our Lady at Fatima.

The rosary gift is seen as a reaffirmation of the Pope's devotion to Our Lady of Fatima and a sign of encouragement to the Catholic Church in Wales.