ST GREGORY’S Church in Dawlish was forced to close just hours before Easter Sunday service after a glass panel shattered inside.

One of the large upper Narthex windows had shattered leaving shards of glass across the floor and on chairs.

For safety reasons the church remains closed until further notice.

Services today were swiftly moved to St Mary’s Hall at Dawlish Warren.

A spokesman said: ‘At present there is no explanation as to how this has happened. Therefore, for safety reasons, St Gregory’s church is closed until further notice.

‘Please do not enter the church for any reason.’

Rev’d Linda Cronin added: ‘Thankfully no one was there at the time.’