A PROMINENT town centre church is campaigning to get CCTV camera coverage in a bid to combat churchyard crime.

Drinkers and drug users are using the grounds of St Cuthbert's church, near the market place, to indulge in anti-social behaviour.

Parishioners have found hypodermic needles, excrement, and beer bottles in the church yard that have been left behind by unwanted visitors.

Last month, a fire was started in an underground room after someone pushed burning paper through an air hole in one of the church doors.

The Rev Robert Williamson, vicar at St Cuthbert's church, was in the building conducting a wedding rehearsal when the incident happened, and called the fire brigade.

Luckily the church was not badly damaged. A group of young boys had been spotted in the churchyard just before the fire started and Mr Williamson believes one of them may have been responsible.

He said: "We have had quite a few problems, particularly in the entrance area of the church centre.

"We have found needles and excrement, it seems to be used as a toilet and then there was the fire.

"It has been an ongoing problem for quite some time.

"We have tried and tried to get a CCTV camera installed. It would help tremendously to cut down crime.

"Old ladies use the entrance when they come to the centre for coffee mornings and they don't want to see this."

Mr Williamson said he had approached Darlington Borough council on several occasions for help in installing a camera but he has so far been unsuccessful.

Mr Williamson, who has been a vicar at St Cuthbert's for three years, said: "We have approached the council but nothing has been done.

"We would be prepared to raise some of the money needed to buy a CCTV camera but we could not possibly raise all the money. The cameras are very expensive."

The council was not available for comment today.

Anyone with information about the fire should contact Darlington police on (01325) 467681 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.