TWO banners, suggesting people try praying during Lent, have disappeared.

At the beginning of Lent, five such banners went up around the town, inviting people to 'Try Praying' during the Lent season — two of which have since disappeared.

The Rev David Muir, pioneer minister in the Okehampton deanery, said: 'I guess this could be some kind of atheist mafia, not liking the message of the banner! We did get a complaint last year, asking whether we had planning permission to put up such a banner on a church. But what could be more open than just inviting people to try praying and to see what happens?

'If anyone knows where the banners have gone, the churches would be pleased to have them back.'

For anyone wishing to try praying, there are free booklets in St James' Chapel. They suggest praying for a week and seeing what happens. Guidance is given to pray for the things that really matter to you, and praying from the heart.