A Duke who has been dead for more than 200 years and was supposedly resting eternally in a Hanworth church appears to be on the move.

Worshippers from the Parish of Saint George in Hanworth Park had been trying to fix an underground leak in the church over the festive period when their attention turned to the gravestone of Aubrey, sixth Duke of St Albans, who died in 1800 shortly after building Hanworth Park House.

The Rev Paul Williamson had to call in a qualified team to release the Duke's gravestone to get into the crypt, but to his surprise the Duke had gone as had the crypt.

"There was just a sandpit," said Mr Williamson, "we removed the sand and found more filling. No Duke. No stairs to the crypt.

"We have to find the Duke. That's the clue behind stopping the water.

"Three of our residents say they have been down there before, as children, and have seen the Duke's coffin.

"They can't remember clearly the location of the stairs or what they saw, but he was once there."

The church is now appealing for people who may have a clear memory of where the crypt steps are located to come forward.

Write to Rev Paul Williamson at The Rectory, 7 Blakewood Close, Hanworth, TW13 7NL.