by Lucy Buckland

Yobs have vandalised the memorial garden of a church where grieving families bury their loved ones' ashes.

A gang smashed-up two benches in the quiet retreat at All Saints' Church in Church Road, Kenley.

Church warden Irene Hadley, who discovered the damage, said although no ashes were disturbed it was sad as the church had been targeted countless times by vandals and thieves in the past two years.

She told the Advertiser: "People have seen groups of youths coming into the church grounds to drink and mess about.

"They leave their bottles behind and we are forced to clean up after them.

"People bury their ashes in this garden and many have donated money for benches in someone's memory.

"They come here to contemplate and it is sad to think this has happened.

"In the last three years we have had our lead roof stolen twice and have been forced to replace it with a worthless material to avoid being targeted again because we could only claim three times on our insurance.

"Although we feel it is disappointing, it is a sad fact that this is part of our society."

Mrs Hadley said yobs also threw children's toys they found in a nearby hall across the church grounds and tried to jump onto the roof during their wrecking spree on October 27.

She added: "On that night they had even tried to get into the kitchen and pulled some of the roof flashing (weatherproof material) off – it is just needless destruction."

Mrs Hadley, who is married to assistant priest the Rev David Hadley, called on people in the area to be more vigilant about kids causing trouble in the church grounds.

She said: "Although the police have promised to put extra patrols out we would like anyone who sees anything suspicious to call them.

"We can't claim any money back on our insurance for vandalism."

Roger Capham, chairman of the Kenley Safer Neighbourhood Panel, added: "We are beginning to accept this kind of behaviour. I am absolutely disgusted, it shows a total lack of respect."

Kenley Safer Neighbourhood Team PC Gareth Storer said the church is now part of a dispersal zone which gives police powers to break up gangs of kids and send them away from the area.

He also said the team would be patrolling Church Road regularly.

If you have information or would like to report vandalism, call Kenley police on 020 8721 2466.