The newly appointed director for one of East Lancashire's most revered historical sites is calling upon parents and police to help curb continuous youth anti-social behaviour after the grounds of Whalley Abbey were trashed.

Reverend Adam Thomas, who took up his post as director of Whalley Abbey in March, said for five nights out of the last nine, teenagers have been seen in the grounds of the Abbey, wreaking havoc and abusing him and his wife. 

Revd Thomas said youngsters were caught climbing through windows, while damage had been done to the garden, fences smashed, flowers trashed and obscenities shouted.

He said: "For the fifth night in nine we have teenagers in the grounds of Whalley Abbey refusing to leave, damaging the garden and shouting obscenities.

"In the past 10 days we have been abused, had fences smashed, flowers trashed and people climbing through windows.

"Our local police are excellent. But there just isn’t enough. They are stretched too thin."

Revd Thomas said that when he called the police on Sunday, they advised him to return to his house as technically, the youths were not damaging his property.

Posting on social media on Sunday evening, he added: "I was told to ring 999, which I have done, and have just been told to go into my house as technically they are not in my property.

"Given that we have a medieval gatehouse and a continuous wall around this 800 year old property that is a ridiculous answer.

"Parents of these children need to help us. We are doing all we can to engage and provide local youngsters with something to do, but tonight nine of your children are damaging our property, a place where NHS and frontline workers have come to take respite. A holy place. A place of peace.

"What’s next for us is CCTV and security - in a place of worship and sanctuary."

Lancashire Telegraph: (C) Manager Graham Vernon with BBGC volunteers and youths, Mark Ireland, Archdeacon Diocese of Blackburn and his wife Gill Ireland(C) Manager Graham Vernon with BBGC volunteers and youths, Mark Ireland, Archdeacon Diocese of Blackburn and his wife Gill Ireland

In March, a youth club was set up at the Abbey to help improve relations between youngsters in the area and the older members of the community, but Revd Thomas said the groups causing trouble were older than those attending the youth club.

He added: "I have to say with over 120 youngsters signed up to the youth club - that is working. Our relationship with them and their parents is good and growing.

"This work is longer term and will make a difference over a longer period of time. It is part of the solution. We need the other parts to make it all work.

"I’m not looking for comments or sounding off about young people.

"They need adult support, supervision and help. We need to act and work together."

Revd Thomas has asked anyone who wants to help and become 'part of the solution' to contact him directly.

Ribble Valley police have been contacted for a statement.