RESIDENTS near a vandal-plagued church are being urged to help combat a rising tide of damage.

The vandals have been targeting Westbury Gardens United Reformed Church, off Audley Range, Blackburn, in recent weeks by breaking up stone steps at the rear of the church and throwing them on to the roof.

"It's so bad that we've had to call a builder in and we are going to have to demolish the steps. If we don't, the vandals will," said church treasurer Alan Fish.

"Over the last 15 years we've probably spent £10,000 on roof repairs because of bricks and stones being thrown.

"It's a continual problem we've been battling over the years, but it has flared up in the last few weeks." Mr Fish said it was older teenagers who were probably to blame for the attacks, because of the weight of some of the stones and slabs that have been moved.

Rev Geoffrey Townsend, minister at the church, added: "The reality is that few churches and places of worship are exempt from vandalism and graffiti.

"If you drive around Blackburn you see churches daubed with graffiti and with broken windows.

"The community police are aware of it and they drive around the area, but they can only be in one place at one time. You have to learn to live within the realities of life."

A spokesman for Blackburn Police appealed for the public to be vigilant.

"We are aware of the damage to the church and are looking into the incident," he said.

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