A VICAR has denounced the thug who shot a metal dart from an air rifle at a parishioner in a church procession.

St James' and St Peter's churches, have held the combined annual walking day for several years.

The dart was fired while the congregations were making their way through the town centre on Sunday morning.

The woman, who has not been named by police, received a puncture wound on the side of her face but did not need hospital treatment.

The Rev Roger Smith, vicar of St James', said: "It is so worrying that just a couple of inches and it could have hit her eye. "We had a service at St James' at 10am and walked to Greenfield Gardens for an open air service. Myself and the Rev Jeff Finch were leading the parade and there were a couple of hundred parishioners.

"It wasn't until we got to Greenfield Gardens we realised something had happened. The woman is a member of St Peter's and I think she was the mother of one of the Brownies.

"The police were very quick to react and took the matter very seriously.

"It was a very sad thing to happen on what was a lovely day."

The parishioners were accompanied by Haslingden and Helmshore Band.

A Eucharist service was celebrated at St Peter's in the evening.

Police are still appealing for anyone with any information about the dart incident to contact them on 01706 215242.

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