THE mystery behind a 100-year-old unopened church safe in Penketh has been solved.

But sadly there was not the treasure inside many readers hoped.

As previously reported in the Warrington Guardian, St Paul's church warden Paul Layfield was hoping to track down a safe cracker to unlock fire-resisting Chubb safe after the keys were lost during a burglary more than 20 years ago.

It was not known what was in the safe but members were keen to dispose of it, once they knew what was inside, ahead of the proposed demolition of the building next year.

Mr Layfield added: "Lots of people rang offering advice or practical assistance and we would like to say a big thank you especially to Martin Richardson of Safeguard in Warrington who came out and gave more than an hour of his services for free.

"He managed to open it and guess what?

"It was empty!

"He didn't want the safe though so if anyone would like it for scrap they can collect it before Christmas in return for a donation for the new St Paul's church building fund."