A Polish priest has reportedly gone on strike because his congregation is too stingy.

Father Piotr Lenart is refusing to talk during mass due to the pitiful church collections, reports Ananova.

As part of his protest, the parish priest at Deszkowice in south-east Poland stands silently before his congregation.

The row stems from an appeal launched two years ago to rebuild the church's car park.

"At first we thought there was something wrong with him. It was only after a while we worked out that he had gone quiet because he was angry with us," said one elderly church-goer.

Meanwhile, parishioner Jozef Duglosz, 75, said it was "an embarrassment".