Church under siege by louts

5:10pm Thursday 6th September 2001

CHURCH members in the middle of their service found themselves under siege while youths as young as eight shot at the windows with an air gun.

The incident was one of a string of episodes causing hundreds of pounds of damage to Oak Community Church, in St Paul's Cray.

The church has been hit by a wave of vandalism including broken windows, smashed fencing, graffiti and disruption to church services.

Reverend Norman Dix said: “It is disheartening when you are working to help out the kids and they do something like this. We were having a service while kids as young as eight were shooting at the building with an air gun outside. Windows were smashed.”

Despite the daily struggle Mr Dix has not given up hope.

“Some of the youths are good kids, they just get into the wrong crowds.

“We will keep on doing what God has called us to do, which is reach out to the community.”

Oak Community Church runs a youth club on Fridays and a nursery group on Tuesdays.

Congregation volunteers spent a day repairing the damage caused by vandals to the Oak Community Church and its grounds.

Editor's Choice