A Norfolk church must raise £4,500 to buy back its missing font cover.

The wooden structure adorned the font at St Nicholas Chapel, in King's Lynn until it was removed in 1968.

It spent decades in a private museum in Downham Market, which closed down 10 years ago.

Now it has resurfaced at a London antiques showroom. Discovering that the 17 foot high structure came from the chapel, Westland Antiques has offered it to the Friends of St Nicholas Chapel at a special cost price so it can be brought home to Lynn.

Friends' chairman Adrian Parker said: 'Westland has conserved it well and it would be wonderful to see it back in the chapel, However, the antiques firm is moving premises and the offer to us only stands for a short time.'

The Churches Conservation Trust, which owns the chapel supports its return, but they have over 350 other churches to care for, and do not have any money to assist the friends.

Mr Parker said: 'We have already raised half of the estimated purchase and re-erection costs of £4,500, so please support us to achieve the rest. We are hopeful that soon we could see this unique historic feature back where it belongs in Lynn.'

St Nicholas Chapel has been a part of Lynn life for more than 600 years.

Monuments from the 17th and 18th Centuries adorn the walls and vivid picture panels depict 32 scenes from the life of Jesus Christ.

In 2015 it re-opened after a £2.7m restoration which has breathed new life in the chapel.

It now holds a variety of cultural events such as concerts, fairs and exhibitions. The Chapel is also used as learning environment by telling the story of Medieval Lynn.

The Friends of St Nicholas' Chapel are launching an appeal to raise money to return the missing font canopy which was made in 1902 as a copy of the original one made in 1630 but destroyed in the 1840's.

If you would like to help, any donations should be sent to the Friends of St Nicholas' Chapel at the chapel in St Ann's Street, PE30 1NH) by October 15.