RADCLIFFE'S landmark church is under siege by a gang of teenage vandals who attack the building, disrupt services, and defecate on the place of worship.

The latest incident at St Thomas and St John's Church has left its clock badly damaged.

"They climb onto the church roof, climb up to the clock, and swing on the fingers. The clock is now broken, just two weeks after being repaired," said 73-year-old church member Mrs Myra Bradshaw.

She added: "The tower was completed in 1871 so the clock has been there 127 years. Remembering the amount of weather it has taken over the years, one would assume that the fingers are not in first-class condition. If these young people get injured, will the church be blamed?"

The vandals have also caused hundreds of pounds worth of damage by chipping off stonework on the building and they delight in intimidating church users.

"Just two weeks ago a mother came to collect her daughter from Brownies and received verbal abuse and her car was spat on. Others have been menaced by these youngsters."

The catalogue of recent incidents includes:

A funeral party finding five used condoms on the step when they emerged from the church.

Pornographic graffiti daubed on the walls.

Vomit, urine and excrement on the church building.

The unpleasant task of cleaning up lies with pensioners such as Mrs Bradshaw and other members of the congregation.

"We're disgusted and angry," said Mrs Bradshaw, who has been attending the Blackburn Street church for more than 30 years.

"Jesus said: 'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.' Do the young people who are causing so much distress to us think that?"

The team rector, the Rev Charles Ellis, said that the police had been brought in and new security measures were to be introduced.

He said: "In themselves the acts of vandalism are petty, but the cumulative effect makes it a major problem. We've just got to try and prevent it from depressing us."

He added: "Unfortunately, I don't think the problem is unique to us: it is happening all over Radcliffe."

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