YOBS ripped a statue erected in memory of a road accident victim from its foundations outside a Lancaster church.

The vandals caused hundreds of pounds of damage by ripping down the statue of Saint Bernadette in the grotto outside St Joseph's Roman Catholic Church in Slyne Road, Skerton.

A worshipper made the sickening discovery.

Shocked Father Andrew Broster told the Citizen that the family of a young man who was killed in a road accident during the Second World War blackout erected the statue around 60 years ago.

He is now awaiting an insurance quote to ascertain the cost of repairing damage to both the statue and its foundations.

He told the Citizen: "This has upset a lot of people, in particular some elderly worshippers who remember when the statue was erected."

A member of Police and Communities Together (PACT), Fr Broster is to raise the issue with the crime partnership and says: "We are now worrying what is coming next."

"This wanton act of vandalism took a lot of effort and it's a sad reflection on how society can be today. The people responsible must be very unhappy."

He says the church has escaped major vandal attacks during his six months in the role. However, it has been victim to a number of costly attacks and breaks-in in the past.

The church is located in the Skerton Triangle - targeted by PACT in a bid to combat problems with drinking, drugs, violence and associated crime.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 01524 63333 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.