VANDALS in Middlewich have shown that Christmas means nothing to them as they launched a number of attacks on a church during one its most important seasons.

The United Reform Church, on Queen Street, is the latest religious centre to be hit by thugs in the town who seem to delight in causing damage and mayhem.

The church has now been targeted on two occasions in the past week, with some of the congregation thinking that the vandals are simply creating havoc for laughs.

Problems

Clr John Brown, who attends the Queen Street church, said: "We've had problems at the United Reform Church for a few weeks now.

"But unusually these do not appear to be problems with children or youths, the damage appears to have been caused after closing time at the pubs.

"Last week we had people running between the Institute and the church building, they also smashed light fittings and the rain shelter outside the Institute and scattered a number of planters all over the place.

"Earlier this week we had a further spate of trouble when somebody - who obviously thought they were having a laugh - unscrewed the external light shade, pinched the bulb and then screwed the shade back on.

"Again they also scattered the plant pots that were set up at the side of the building."

He added: "I'm disgusted by the attacks and think it's really sad that people can do this to a group which has done so much good for the town."

The vandalism at the United Reform Church is the latest in a string of incidents over the past 12 months and it is churches, particularly St Michael and All Angels, which have had to put up with the most damage.

The police are now involved in the hunt for the vandals and the Community Action Team will be continuing its regular patrol of the town.

Information can be passed on to the team by ringing 01244 613538.

ghellam@guardiangrp.co.uk