A CHURCH and community hub has been left unusable after vandals broke in and caused hundreds of pounds of damage before setting a fire.

Darwen Methodist Church, Bright Street, was targeted during the early hours of Saturday morning when intruders tried to gain access to the safe.

They then ransacked cupboards and damaged materials used by community groups such as the Brownies and Weight Watchers before piling materials onto a gas stove in the kitchen and switching it on before leaving.

A fire wrecked most of the kitchen and caused serious smoke damage throughout the rest of the building.

Now members of the church are trying to figure out how to rebuild, after recently saving enough money and using all their reserves for new flooring and a heating system.

Minister Louise Makin said: “We are all totally devastated, it is heart-breaking that this would happen – especially when we have only very recently been able to reopen our doors for worship due to the coronavirus lockdown.

“Luckily for us, the fire was spotted quickly by our neighbours who called the fire brigade.

“Bright Street is a real community hub, not only open for worship and prayer but used every day by the community, Brownies, Trefoil Guild, Unity Choir, Stroke Choir, WW, Ccommunity support by BwD such as Thai Chi and Balance and Strength, West Pennine Slings, as well as our own community lunch, toddler group and Time, our group for the isolated.”

On Sunday morning, worshippers had no option but to gather on the lawn outside for prayers.

Rev Makin is now appealing to anyone with information to contact the police.

She said: “We are a very tight-knit community so I hope if anyone does know who did this, they may speak out.

“We have celebrated our 50th anniversary this year and saved for a new floor and heating system – our reserves were used for that, so we have nothing left.

“We will be appealing for donations to help with the work that needs to be done to get us back up and running.”

Four crews were called to deal with the blaze. A joint police investigation into the cause is under way.

Anyone who would like updates or to donate to the church is urged to follow the church’s Facebook page: Darwen Methodist Church Bright Street.