‘MINDLESS vandalism’ that caused around £800 worth of damage to a Hakin church has prompted a police appeal for witnesses.

Between 10pm on Sunday, January 25, and noon on Saturday, January 31, stones and bricks were taken from a neighbouring garden wall and used to smash eight windows at Rehoboth Church, in Lower Hill Street.

After gaining entry through a broken window, the vandals then broke a light inside the church hall, and pulled cutlery from the kitchen drawers, throwing it all over the floor.

Church secretary Frances Owen said she was horrified to see the state the church was in.

“I couldn’t believe it,” said Mrs Owen.

“It looked like a war zone. The hall was covered in glass, bricks, stones - and the kitchen was the same.

“I could have cried; it was everywhere.”

Despite nothing being stolen, the damage to the windows, blinds and lights will cost around £800 to fix.

The extent of the damage to the church and hall – which is used to host Sunday school lessons - also meant that week’s Sunday service had to be cancelled.

Luckily community spirit was in full force, with local carpenter Antony Davies volunteering to board up the shattered windows, and then bringing his family down to help clean up the mess on Saturday night, and again on Sunday morning.

“It’s been a lot of work for everyone,” said Mrs Owen.

“I couldn’t believe how willing they were to help.”

The church group will now be looking into eligibility for CCTV funding, in the hopes it will prevent any future incidents.

“It’s been very upsetting for people who use the church, some of whom have been coming here all their lives,” said Mrs Owen.

“It’s like a second home to me.

“It’s hard to know what to say. I don’t know what the matter with people is.”

Anyone with information should contact Milford Haven Police Station on 101, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.