A VANDAL-HIT synagogue is to mark a new beginning with its 30th anniversary celebrations.

Hillock Hebrew Congregation will commemorate the milestone anniversary with a special service on Sunday (May 9).

At the same time members will see the building, in Beverley Close, Whitefield, reconsecrated as the congregation looks forward to the future.

From 2002, the synagogue was subjected to repeat attacks of vandalism, which saw the building dawbed with graffiti, windows broken and more recently in November last year, firebugs almost destroyed the building completely.

The synagogue was closed temporarily while repair work was carried out.

Throughout the devastation, members of the congregation have continued to remain strong and after much campaigning for financial assistance, a security fence was erected around the building.

With new hope for the future, around 150 people will take part in the anniversary service and reconsecration ceremony this weekend.

Special guests at the event include Ivan Lewis MP, David Arnold, the president of the Jewish Representative Council, Rev Leslie Olsberg, from Heaton Park Synagogue, and a representative from Beth Din, the Jewish Court of Law.

Richard Walker, secretary of the Hillock Hebrew Congregation, said: "We felt we should do something special for the 30th anniversary and to say that we are back up and running. The fire last year caused us a lot of problems but we wanted to get the message across that we will not allow vandals to cause us to shut."