Yobs smash 80-year-old stained glass windows at historic Willenhall church

Members of St Anne's Church now face having to fork out more cash to replace the panes which are believed to date back up to 80 years.

They were smashed after what is thought to be a vandal attack between Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning this week.

Metal guards which are used to protect the glass, up to 20ft high, were damaged first. The windows have now been boarded up ahead of getting permanent replacements.

Parishioners discovered the the attack at around 9.45am on Wednesday and carried out a clean up inside the building to remove broken glass and ensure there would be no disruption to services. It is the latest attack on the building, with lead having been stripped from the roof previously. The church is due to celebrate 152 years next month.

Church warden John Asbury said: "Everybody is absolutely shocked and disgusted. People are upset and worrying we have got to raise even more money to sort it out.

"It looks like they have been smashed with a heavy ball or something has been thrown. There is no way it is an accident.

"We had got metal guards up, the one was on the floor by the windows and the other was hanging off. We cleaned it up and the service was carried out. We are not going to let those responsible win. We are having a summer fair tomorrow to raise money to keep it running and we now we are going to have to find money for the windows."

The summer fair takes place tomorrow from 12pm and will include a mixture of tombola, games, raffle and stalls. Admission is 20p and aims to raise cash towards church funds.

Mr Asbury, aged 63, said the church had survived bombings during the war but had now fallen victim to the vandal attacks decades on.

The church has a regular congregation of 25 to 30 people every Sunday and the church hall is used by a mixture of pensioner groups, a youth club and karate group. Anyone who is able to support the fundraising drive can call Mr Asbury on 07510 167182.