MORE than the humdrum vandalism of which East Lancashire has too much already, the attacks by hooligans on two of Rossendale's most prominent churches are crimes against both their congregations and the community.

For the destruction of 12 stained glass windows at the Manchester Road Methodist Church in Haslingden and the damage at the town's ancient St James' Church have taken place on two places of worship that are not only prized features of Rossendale, but treasured parts of its religious entity.

Yet, depressingly, we hear from the Methodist Church's minister that no such distinctions seem to strike the vandals who will as readily attack a sacred and listed building as they will a bus shelter.

Let us hope that the law will make a distinction and apprise the culprits of their sacrilege -- by imposing the most severe penalties it can impose.

And should not the public assist in delivering that? Haslingden, after all, is a compact and close-knit community where young trouble-makers might be more easily identified and reported than they would be in larger, more anonymous towns.

Might not its residents, then, look to their duty being alert to the hooligans in their midst. And if only their parents would, there would be much less vandalism for decent, law-abiding people to lament.

NOW that the shock of a 5-0 drubbing by arch-rivals Blackburn Rovers begins to subside, perhaps disappointed Burnley fans should take comfort in the success that their side has given them this season.

After all, at the outset, a lot of soccer pundits were predicting that the Clarets' return to First Division would be a very brief affair. But how wrong they have proved the knockers who tipped them for relegation.

Burnley have shown they have the stuff not only to survive, but to even to reach the play-off zone. And even if that momentum has not been maintained, for Stan Ternent and his squad to finish this come-back season in mid-table will be a proud achievement by any chalk.

And with that upshot, Burnley's loyal fans can positively look ahead to even greater things to come.