Grant aids vandalised church

A grant of £300 has been given to a church in Hednesford to contribute towards thousands of pounds of work planned to protect it from vandalism and crime.

Hednesford Pentecostal Church, in Hill Street, has suffered a catalogue of vandalism including smashed windows and items being found in the grounds included broken bottles, syringes and human excrement.

The church has already had a £120,000 extension and refurbishment project which was completed in April last year.

But it is now hoped gates could be used to stop people getting into an area at night which is used as a shortcut by schoolchildren during the day.

Church leaders also want spikes installed on the roof of a single storey building behind the church after vandals climbed up to damage a central heating vent and destroyed the gas meter box.

They would also be put on a shed roof amid fears it is not strong enough to hold somebody's weight should they climb up.

An application was submitted to Cannock Chase District Council's grant applications and rate relief committee for a grant but did not request a specific amount.

The committee decided to grant £300 and the authority's external funding officer Martin Drayton said other organisations had also been approached for funding.

Senior leader at the church John Tyrell said: "We are grateful for the grant as the work is much needed and the money will really help."

The entire scheme planned has been estimated to cost around £8,000. The church car park has also caused problems as it is behind the building and hidden from the view of passing traffic. Its stone surface has attracted wheel-spinning cars and loose bricks have been thrown at the church and nearby homes so it is hoped it can be resurfaced.