Concern over church vandals

Gravestones have been destroyed and others vandalised at St Nicholas' Church, Guisborough, which is also plagued by drug users who use the churchyard as a drug den.

The Reverend Phillip Bishop, who recently chaired a meeting about the problems, said drug users were regularly using the grounds and that needles were frequently found in the churchyard.

He said: "Some of the grave- stones have been smashed to pieces.

"I caught one youth rocking backwards and forwards on a gravestone which had been there for 200 years.

"When I confronted him, he said he was testing to see if it was secure. It's incredibly disrespectful.

"Part of the problem is that the churchyard is overgrown in places, which gives the drug users somewhere to hang out. It has become a bit of an eyesore and something needs to be done."

The church has also suffered a spate of thefts in recent months.

Mr Bishop told The Northern Echo last year that wedding guests at the church were being targeted by thieves.

Since then, no wedding guests have been victim of the thefts, but recently an intruder got into the church during a choir practice, mingled with choir members and stole keys from the vestry.

It cost £250 to change the locks and have new keys cut.

The church has also had to have new locks put on windows and fixtures put in place to stop people from smashing windows with stones.

The recent meeting called by Mr Bishop was attended by representatives from the police, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, The Civic Society, Gisborough Estates, Prior Pursglove College, and Guisborough Market Town Initiative.

Concerns about unauthorised access from the churchyard to the priory grounds were also raised.

It was agreed that the situation would be monitored and that the possibility of installing more litter bins and a fence would be investigated.

The public are invited to St Nicholas' Church to give their views during Guisborough Heritage Day, on Saturday, April 17.