AN angry parish priest who has seen his church targeted by young vandals has delivered a stern sermon to their parents.

Father Derek Hailes, who has witnessed a 10-week campaign of vandalism at Holy Trinity RC Church in Spring Street, Bury, has demanded parents take their responsibilities seriously.

And he wants mums and dads to ensure their youngsters stop what he has labelled as "these appalling activities."

During the last few weeks, vandals have daubed racist and other graffiti on the church building and others nearby, as well as smashing 45 panes of glass in church windows.

Now, Holy Trinity is facing a £2,000 repair bill with no sign of the vandalism stopping.

Father Hailes said: "They urinate against the church walls, litter the church grounds with beer cans and bottles and desecrate graves in the garden of remembrance by shovelling up decorative stone chippings and scattering them all over the surrounding areas."

He says the children generally "run riot" in the area and, recently, poured motor oil in the church yard. Father Hailes, who has been Holy Trinity parish priest for four years, continued: "The local police have been called on numerous occasions but the children have no respect for their authority.

"And little seems to be done in the matter of official cautions or appearances in the juvenile court on charges of criminal damage.

"I wonder when, and if, the parents of the children committing the offences will take their parental responsibilities seriously and call a halt to these appalling activities which are runing what was an attractive area of Bury?"

He has even take photographs of the culprits and handed them over to police officers.

Father Hailes has now sent out letters to various people, highlighting the vandalism.

Among the recipients are Bury North MP David Chaytor, Bury Council chief executive Dennis Taylor and Bury police commander Ch Supt Phil Hollowood.

"Each morning when I wake up, my first thought is that I'll have a look round and see what's been done this time," he went on.

PC Julian Peach of Bury police: "Inquiries are in hand in an effort to sort out this problem which appears to be a long-standing one.

"A constructive meeting has now been held between police and council officials whereby various methods of tackling the problem were discussed."

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