A church near Newtown faces a bill of "at least £30,000" after vandals smashed six glass-stained windows "beyond imagination".

Despite wire mesh protecting the windows at St Llwchaiarn, Llanllwchaiarn, vandals went to some effort to break the glass leaving the church exposed to rain, wind and the cold.

"This was a deliberate attack of a beautiful and well used church - much loved by the community," Reverend Nia Wyn Morris said.

"How dare people do such damage to a place that offers such love and support and solace to people when they are at their greatest need.

County Times: Reverend Nia Wyn MorrisReverend Nia Wyn Morris

"We will have to board these windows up for future funerals and Christmas. How sad. And what an utter waste of money - this will cost at least £30,000 or more in repair work."

Vandals are thought to have broken the windows with iron rods from an old grave sometime between Tuesday, November 8, and Thursday, November 10.

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Dyfed-Powys Police said it is investigating after they received a report that six stained glass windows had been damaged.

It is the fourth church to be targeted by vandals this year. Stained glass windows at St David's Church in Pool Road and Crescent Presbyterian Chapel were smashed in April, followed by an arson attack at Newtown Evangelical Church in May where a youth was arrested.

County Times: Stained glass windows were broken at St Llwchaiarn's Church near Newtown Stained glass windows were broken at St Llwchaiarn's Church near Newtown

Following the vandalism earlier this year, Dyfed-Powys Police Chief Inspector for north Powys Jacqui Lovatt said officers are not in a position to patrol 24 hours-a-day.

“We are aware of it and taking patrols whenever possible, but the responsibility does fall on property owners to ensure there is signage and security measures in place to prevent members of the public gaining access to the building and immediate area,” said Chief Insp Lovatt.

“We are aware of it and where we can we will undertake patrols but we’re not in a position to patrol those buildings 24/7.

“Owners have been provided with crime prevention advice to ensure appropriate signage is displayed, helping to prevent the public from entering the area, and to look towards implementing security measures.”

Anyone with information that could help officers with their investigation into the Llanllwchaiarn church vandalism is asked to report it to Dyfed-Powys Police, either online at: https://bit.ly/DPPContactOnline, by emailing 101@dyfed-powys.police.uk, or by calling 101 quoting incident reference DP-20221110-253.

People who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech impaired text the non-emergency number on 07811 311 908

Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555111, or visiting crimestoppers-uk.org.