GOVERNMENT officials are meeting with the Church of England after an Oxfordshire MP raised concerns about the issue of bats.

Banbury MP Sir Tony Baldy spoke in the House of Commons about the damage bats have been causing to a church in his constituency.

He told MPs: “Bats are mammals, and one of the things I remember about mammals from my A-Level zoology course is that they can be distinguished from other species by seven characteristics, two of which are that mammals defecate and urinate.

“The blunt reality is that bat faeces and urine have the potential to cause and do cause enormous damage in churches.

“English parish churches and cathedrals have significant holdings of monumental sculpture that date back to medieval England. Bat urine and faeces are extremely damaging to church monuments and other important artefacts in churches.

“For example, the church of St Peter ad Vincula at South Newington has some very fine, almost unique, medieval wall paintings, which were spared by Thomas Cromwell’s men, but having survived the ravages of the Reformation, these irreplaceable parts of our national heritage are now threatened by bat urine.”

Sir Tony is Second Church Estates Commissioner, responsible for providing a link between the established Church and Government.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said it is looking into the issue.

Spokeswoman Laura Hunter said: “We are currently working with the Church of England and the Bat Conservation Trust to resolve this issue.

“Research is under way to look at solutions to the problem while ensuring these rare animals remain protected.”