This house certainly has Mass appeal.

With an exposed vaulted timber roof, stained glass windows surrounded by gothic stone arches – this former church even comes with its own bells.

But potential developers are being warned there could be a grave problem with the garden, as a loop-hole means the grounds are still open for burials.

Estate agents claim the quirk simply adds to the charm of St Mary the Virgin on Chailey Common designed by architect John Oldrid Scott and built in 1876.

Estate agent Sarah Western, from the Haywards Heath branch of Torbridge, said: “It’s absolutely gorgeous and really unusual, as soon as you step inside you want to live there. But because of historic rights it must remain an open graveyard so it will still be used for burials. This can’t be changed so whoever moves in will have to live with it. I think most people have seen it as another character trait to a property already full of character.

“As someone said when I showed them round yesterday – at least the neighbours won’t be noisy.”