Vandals who left a trail of destruction behind them and a candle burning unattended at a north Shropshire church are being sought by police.

Two youths are being blamed for the attack at St Alkmund’s Church in Church Street, Whitchurch.

Police said the pair, a male and female, flooded the bathroom and toilet then boiled a kettle filled with coffee, sugar and washing up liquid before hurling the contents on to the walls.

The pair also left a message in the church visitor book before leaving the scene on Thursday afternoon between 1.30pm and 3.10pm.

Police are examining CCTV from the church and have warned the pair they will be caught.

Rector The Reverend Andrew Ridley said: “It’s very upsetting, for anyone who has affection for the church, it’s open every day and a lot of people visit it.

“We have a toilet in church under the stairs and they had done the silly thing of putting the plug in and letting the water flow.

“They also got the electric kettle out and coffee, sugar and washing up liquid and it went everywhere, and it was a right mess.

“It’s silly, mindless vandalism and they were obviously proud of what they had done and had left us a little message. I hope they will be caught, it’s a sick feeling, and I want to stop them now.”

Congregation member Pauline Stokes added: “Hopefully they will be caught and punished and this may be a lesson to people who think they can come and do these dreadful things.”

Constable Chris Peel, of Whitchurch police, said: “A white male in his late teens and a white female in her mid teens are suspected of causing the damage.

“He is about 6ft tall and of slim build, with cropped fair or gingery hair and the girl is of medium build and about 5ft 4in in height, with dark hair that she had tied back in a ponytail.”

Anyone with information can call police on 03003 333000.