Dedicated villagers have completed 100 hours of non-stop praying.

Members of Cowfold Christian Fellowship set up the prayer room at The Smithy in Bolney Road.

Every hour, at least one person was in the room praying.

Allan Johnston, one of the church leaders, said: "Stress has become a much-debated feature of modern life and secular culture offers little to relieve grief, anxiety or pressure.

"We found that people were inspired by this opportunity to experience solitude and collective prayer.

"Although prayer is a key aspect of the life of the fellowship, as it is for all Christians, we had never attempted a non-stop event like this before.

"We plan to repeat the 100 hours and would recommend the experience to other churches and Christian groups."

The idea of praying continuously for 100 hours comes from the 24-7 prayer movement, which started in Chichester in 1999.

Cowfold Christian Fellowship started meeting in the village hall in 1991 with about 30 adults.

Average Sunday attendances are now more than 100.