A PARISH priest is fighting a constant tide of vandalism and arson attacks to try to create a peaceful spot for the community.

In the past year, the churchyard at Christ Church, in Great Lumley, near Chester-le-Street, has become a focus for arsonists, had walls repeatedly demolished and motorbikes driven across graves.

Visitors frequently report finding evidence of solvent abuse in the churchyard, or that gravestones have been damaged.

The parish priest and area dean of Chester-le-Street, the Rev Barry Abbott, said there has been no let up in the vandalism since he arrived at the church three years ago.

He said: "It's just wearing me down. There has been constant vandalism that does have a very big impact both financially and pastorally for families with relatives buried here.

"It really is sad that people can't respect these open spaces. I don't want it to become a 'no-go' area where people feel frightened. We're still an open churchyard, we still have the occasional burial.

"We do have people who have complained about the effects of vandalism, these are coming in regularly. It's a case of one step forward, two steps back."

Despite the problems of vandalism, Rev Abbott wants to turn the Victorian churchyard into a peaceful spot that everyone in the community feels they can use.

He would also like anybody who has a family gravestone in the churchyard to contact him, as part of the restoration involves reconstructing any gravestones that are in poor condition.

Where no relatives or ancestors can be found, the church committee will have to try to find the money themselves.

Rev Abbott said: "We want to pull it back into shape for future generations to be proud of.

"It's public property and if people want to get involved in the restoration, or have an interest in the churchyard, then people should contact me. We're not going to get rid of stones, but we need community help to restore them."