Plea after churches are vandalised

Vandals caused hundreds of pounds of damage after targeting two churches in a Mid Wales town. The police have issued an appeal for witnesses.

The United Reform Church and Catholic Church in Newtown were both targeted by vandals over the weekend.

Hundreds of pounds of damage was caused to the United Reform Church in Back Lane, when the culprits threw stones through two Grade II-listed stained glass windows.

Doreen Bunney, an elder with the church, said: "I am under no doubt this is the work of malicious mischievous little people with nothing better to do.

"The beautiful windows are only small, but the cost of repairing the damage will run into the high hundreds, if not thousands. They are small, diamond-shaped windows which were a lovely part of the United Reform Church schoolroom.

"It is absolutely awful someone would do such a thing to a community place like a church and it is most upsetting for us all."

Sian George, Dyfed-Powys Police spokeswoman, said the damage was caused between 5pm on Saturday and 9am yesterday. She said police were appealing for witnesses.

Councillor Joy Jones, deputy town mayor, said: "It is a very thoughtless and heartless thing for them to do and I can't believe people have no shame in targeting places like churches.

"I imagine the damage caused to both churches will cost an awful lot to repair in a time when people have less and less money.

"They should think hard about their actions and turn themselves in to the police."

Anyone with information about the attacks is asked to call police on 08453 302000.