Ammon News - One of Sweden's most famous wooden churches moved to a new site - to prevent it from being swallowed by the world's largest underground iron-ore mine.

The Kiruna Church, called Kiruna Kyrka in Swedish, and its belfry, are being moved along a three-mile route east to a new city centre.

They are the latest buildings to be moved from the current location of Kiruna - Sweden's northernmost city, which is around 124 miles inside the Arctic Circle.

The city has a population of around 23,000 people, including members of the Indigenous Sami community, living across an area of nearly 7,528 square miles.

This week, thousands of visitors have descended upon the city to watch and take part in the moving of the church.

The church's vicar, Lena Tjarnberg, kicked off the move with a blessing on Tuesday morning. The move is expected to take until Wednesday afternoon.

The relocation of the church has become a meticulously planned two-day media event, organised by LKAB, the state-owned mining company, and highlighted by an appearance from Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf.

Sky News