THIEVES smashed a 200-year-old stained-glass window and stole £700 in two raids on a Pendle church.

Church officials and police today condemned the burglars who broke in to St Paul's Little Marsden Church, Hibson Road, Nelson.

In the first incident the offenders removed a Perspex screen covering a historic stained glass window depicting St Mark.

They then smashed a pane of glass causing £2,000 of damage before ransacking the vestry and stealing a set of keys and a jar containing just £20 in change.

In the second incident a vestry window was smashed before thieves broke into a safe and stole £700 from Sunday's collections, which would go towards the Hibson Road church.

Church warden of 25 years, Alan Sadler, 73, today said the window would be replaced by a specialist glazing company and the church was lit through the night by a series of security lights.

He added: "I do not know how they got in to the safe, the only keys kept in the church are for the gates and dustbin.

"It's absolutely terrible breaking into a church. You would think it would not happen but people don't seem too bothered. There has been a church on this site since the 1600s and most of the present church was built in the 1800s. The window will be replaced but it will never be the same." The first incident happened between 1pm on Sunday and 8.40am on Monday and the second on Tuesday night.

Sergeant John Fryer of Nelson police said: "These people have caused £2,000 worth of damage to steal £20. It's crazy what lengths some people will go to."

Anybody with information should contact Lancashire Police on 01282 425001 or ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.