Yob desecrates church in Moreton (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Yob desecrates church in Moreton

POLICE are hunting the foul yob who defecated inside Moreton-in-Marsh's parish church before rubbing a hymn book in the excrement.

Clergy and parishioners at St David's Church suspect the desecration - committed between midnight on Wednesday, July 13 and 3.30pm on Thursday, July 14 - was an act of revenge by a vandal caught breaking into the building.

Vandals have plagued the church for about a month, bursting water-filled balloons inside it, smashing windows, climbing over a coffee bar, littering the churchyard and gathering on a low, rear roof from which they ripped signs saying it was unsafe.

The problem is so bad the building has been closed and churchwarden, Ron Gale, spends hours inside, hoping to catch those responsible.

Last Saturday, he caught three teenage males who had snatched the church's keys from the hook where they are kept for the cleaners.

After giving the boys a severe warning, he threw them out.

Flower arrangers discovered the excrement on the ladies' chapel floor.

As no hymn books are kept in the chapel, the desecrator must have taken one from elsewhere.

Mr Gale, who cleared the excrement up, said: "It was absolutely revolting. "It could've been an act of revenge."

Curate, The Rev Steve Rees, said: "Some of the kids in Moreton get bored out of their heads. The churchyard is open and they go in and fool around."

Police urged anyone with information to telephone them on 0845 090 1234.

The parish meanwhile launched an appeal to raise £22,000 for repairs to the church's lightning conductor, window guards and the mechanism that secures its spire and which comprises a metal rod and two weights.

Parishioners hope grants and donations will generate the money within months. Scaffolding has been erected.

Mr Rees said: "The work needs to be done as soon as possible."