CHURCHES in Bolton are being urged to review security arrangements as a precaution after the terrorist attack in Normandy.

The National Police Chiefs Council said the Christian community should be ‘alert but not alarmed’ and report concerns.

This comes after Father Jacques Hamel was killed while conducting morning mass in his church in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, in France on Tuesday.

There are an estimated 47,000 Christian churches, chapels and meeting houses in the UK.

One of those is Bolton Parish Church in the town centre and the warden of the building, Cllr John Walsh said precautions are being taken.

He said: “I think we have appropriate security procedures in place at the church.

“We have advised all key holders to ensure the doors are locked if only one person is in the church at any given time.

“Clearly we want to keep the church open as much as possible and it is in our philosophy as Christians to welcome strangers into the building.

“But in the current climate we will be cautious to look out for anyone entering the church with malevolent intentions.”

He added: “What happened in France was absolutely horrendous and for that reason we will be very cautious.”

The NPCC said that while there is no specific intelligence relating to attacks against the Christian community, churches are being reminded to review their security arrangements.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu said: "As we have seen, Daesh and other terrorist groups have targeted Christian as well as Jewish and other faith groups in the West and beyond.

"Following recent events in France, we are reiterating our protective security advice to Christian places of worship and have circulated specific advice.”

In a separate announcement on Tuesday, the Government announced a new £2.4 million fund for security measures at places of worship as part of efforts to tackle hate crime.

A Church of England spokesman said: "We welcome the Home Office announcement today of funding for security measures for places of worship, which will benefit all faith communities.

"All public ministry involves being vulnerable to others, so security measures are good sense in uncertain times."