VANDALS have caused thousands of pounds worth of damage at a church in Weston. St John the Baptist Church in Lower Church Road has been targeted by a gang which has smashed tiles on the roof, covered the walls in graffiti, smashed security lights as well

VANDALS have caused thousands of pounds worth of damage at a church in Weston.St John the Baptist Church in Lower Church Road has been targeted by a gang which has smashed tiles on the roof, covered the walls in graffiti, smashed security lights as well as ripping up a memorial bench and a tree.Youngsters are also thought to have been smoking drugs in the grounds. Rev Richard Taylor said: "In the last two months on five occasions we've had attacks on the church building."We clean things up straight away but it seems there is a group of youths who are determined to make its presence felt."We don't have a security fence around the building, that would spoil the look of the church."It's just extremely annoying and frustrating on a building which is one of Weston's finest."The repairs to the church will cost around £3,500, but members of the church fear that after the work is done the building will be trashed again.Work is due to start at the end of October on a £460,000 church centre at St John the Baptist Church.Rev Taylor added: "Past and present members of the congregation have invested an awful lot into maintaining the church and we are continuing to invest money in it to benefit the community. It's rather sad that there seems to be a group around determined to spoil it.