A LOVINGLY restored church crucifix has been doused in petrol-soaked rags and set alight in a second attack by vandals in three months.

The crucifix, outside St Helen’s Catholic Church, Milton Road, Westcliff, was carefully restored after it was broken into pieces over the NewYear period.

It has now been badly scorched by vandals who set it alight in the early hours of Friday.

Southend restaurateur Salvatore Burzotta, owner of Il Pescatore in Queens Road, spent days gluing together and polishing the crucifix when it was previously damaged.

Long-standing parishioner Annick Johnson, who also helps out around the church, put together a collection when it was last damaged.

She said: “It was awful when it was damaged the first time and now it has happened again.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen now. Why would someone do that?

“Salvatore did an absolutely wonderful job. He spent four days and nights working so hard to restore it.

“It must be horrible for him to see this happen again.”

Mr Burzotta’s costs incurred in previously restoring the crucifix were covered by donations from the church’s congregation, but it is not yet known what will now happen with the statuette.

He said: “I was devastated to hear about it. It is worse than horrible what they have done.

“I spent all that time restoring it and now someone has clearly put a lot of effort into vandalising it again.

“It was clearly quite premeditated.

It seems like we’re being targeted.”

A spokesman for the fire service said: “We were called to the scene at 2.55am.

“One crew from Southend attended and used one hose reel to extinguish the fire by 3.10am.”

When questioned, Essex Police had no record of the incident.

The church was unavailable for comment when contacted by the Echo.