VILE yobs smashed a church window in Leigh as well as throwing part of a Dunkirk memorial into nearby bushes.

A number of stones were thrown at the large east window of St Clement’s Churchyard on Leigh Hill during the senseless act.

Staff have branded the attack as “reckless vandalism” with multiple incidents taking place in recent years.

As well as smashing the window, a wreath and stones placed at the church’s Dunkirk Memorial were thrown into bushes.

Peter Monk, one of the church wardens, said: “Naturally I’m upset. One of our jobs is to look after the church and its grounds.

“The intent was to damage the window of the crucifixion which was hand painted.

“It was disappointing. It’s reckless vandalism.”

The stones placed at the Dunkirk memorial had been individually painted by young scouts before the yobs threw them into bushes alongside a wreath.

The stones had previously been placed around the Dunkirk Memorial in remembrance of the Leigh fishermen who died in the 1940 Dunkirk evacuation.

Mr Monk added: “I found that to be extremely sad. They have been there quite some time.

“It was their initiative to paint stones in remembrance. It’s such a shame. It was part of the church.

“When people commit vandalism, they don’t look at the bigger picture.

“A little boy came back with his mum looking for his stone.

“The bigger picture here is some child will go back and their stone won’t be there.”

All but one of the stones were thrown into the bushes nearby.

The one stone left behind read “We will remember them.”

A spokesperson for Essex Police said that no arrests have been made and their enquiries continue.

Anyone with information about the attack, last Wednesday night, should call 101 and quote crime number 42/79871/21.