A SECRET burial chamber has been found under the floor of a village church.

The 7ft square room containing a lead-lined coffin was discovered at St Peter's Church, Powick, after some pews were removed to make extra floor space.

Floorboards eaten by deathwatch beetle and woodworm were then lifted, revealing a stone slab over the entrance to an 8ft high vault.

The discovery raised brief hope of finding hidden treasure, as the church needs £70,000 for repairs to its stonework.

Churchwarden Terry Maple said: "We certainly didn't expect to find this.

"It is a beautiful brick-built chamber and it is fairly obvious from the vaulting that there are at least three others."

The church is a Grade I listed building, dating in part from Norman times, with memorial stones set into the floor of the aisle, but no previous evidence to suggest there were tombs underneath.

"The coffin has a solid lead lining, but the outer wooden casing has completely collapsed and is lying around it," said Mr Maple.

County archaeologist Malcolm Atkins said the type of bricks used in the vaulting dated it between 1784 and 1841, when a new church floor was laid.

"We are trying to decipher information on a surviving plaque from the coffin," he said.

"From records, we should be able to establish how many vaults there are and who is buried there, but no further excavation is planned at the church.

"People have been buried under churches throughout the ages, but earlier burials at Powick may have been laid directly in the ground."