AN EAST Lancashire MP has raised the problem of vandalism on religious premises following an approach by a local church.

A vicar at the church told the Pendle MP Gordon Prentice that it had been subject to repeated attacks and as soon as repairs were made, windows were smashed or the church broken into by yobs again.

Mr Prentice then did further research and found that it was a widespread problem in East Lancashire and across the country.

Last month Church leaders in Accrington hit out at the vandals who were plaguing religious buildings across Hyndburn.

Firefighters also called for worshippers and people living near to churches in the borough to be more vigilant.

And earlier this month New Road Methodist Chapel in Heys Lane, Blackburn, fell victim to vandals who smashed stained glass windows.

Mr Prentice raised the issue with Constitutional Affairs Minister David Lammy who was answering on behalf of the Church Estates Commissioner.

Mr Prentice did not name the Pendle church involved for fear of encouraging more vandalism but instead referred to an attack on a major religious building in Hertfordshire, where £200,000 worth of damage was caused to Waltham Abbey.

Mr Prentice added: "No fewer than one in seven Church of England churches was vandalised last year and it falls to the parishes to bear the cost of insuring the church."

Mr Lammy said the question of insurance and vandalism was a matter for the Church.

Afterwards Mr Prentice said: "I raised the issue after one particular church in my constituency approached me. They suffer persistent and frequent vandalism.

"II did some research and was stunned to find that one in seven churches in the country has been attacked.

"I chose the example of Waltham Abbey in Hertfordshire because it was the worst example. It seems to me wrong that parishioners in an inner city area with major vandalism problems or those whose church has a £200,000 stained glass window should have to pay more for insurance.

"I think the Church of England should pool insurance for all churches centrally and divide the cost up equally among parishes."