A COMMUNITY has been left "dismayed" and "distressed" after mindless vandals ran amok through Sheering churchyard.

Headstones were uprooted and flowers scattered around St Mary the Virgin Church in Church Lane, between 5pm and 8am on Sunday, September 11.

Rev Brian Surtees, an associate priest at St Stephen's at Tye Green, who was officiating at the time, said: "This was a thoughtless act and we suspect they are simply not aware of the distress they have caused."

The alarm was raised by a parishioner who, visiting his wife's grave, found a vase thrown over and flowers strewn across the graveyard.

Mr Surtees said: "We had an interment on the Sunday and it was highly providential that the burial was not in the same area as the vandalism. If it had been I can't imagine the distress it might have caused to the family involved."

"I think it was mindless. They don't understand the harm they've caused. People live longer and many young people haven't been to funerals so they haven't the experience nor the appreciation of what they've done."

Churchwarden Philip Taylor said: "We are blessed with a beautiful old church and a peaceful and well cared for churchyard, where people often spend time visiting graves and remembering loved ones. We also have a dedicated group who spend a lot of time cutting the grass and looking after the churchyard. For all these people the interference with the graves and flowers has caused tremendous distress."

Any witnesses to the vandalism or who has any information should ring police on 01279 641212 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.