A thousand-year-old rune stone, missing for 200 years, has been discovered by accident outside a church in Sweden.

The Viking stone, dating from the mid-11th century, was found when workmen installed a lightning conductor outside a local church in Hagby in the south of the country.

The artefact - measuring 1.8 metres long and 1.3 metres wide - is believed to have been made by Fot, a renowned Viking runemaster, because its style is consistent with his work.

Runes were typically carved in wood, with only stonemasons able to work on large stone slabs.

The stone was found as construction work took place on the site of a medieval church - where it is thought to have lain since the 1400s - which was later destroyed. It is believed the rune was used as part of the entrance to the old church.

"The stone is known from before,” said Emelie Sunding, the archaeologist charged with supervising the construction work, speaking to The Local.

“It was depicted in the 17th century and when the medieval church was torn down in the 19th century we have written records that mention the stone as lost and that it had maybe been moved."

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With the exception of one missing piece, the stone is in good condition. The carvings include an animal head, a bird-like figure at the top of the stone and rune symbols drawn inside a scroll.

Part of the deciphered symbols said: "Jarl and …stone for Gerfast, his father". Researchers have not yet established who these people were.