Vandals have struck at Bromsgrove's ancient parish church which is already beset by major problems.

Graffiti has been scrawled on the doors, stonework and tombstones and a quantity of tiles from the 16th century lychgate, which was recently repaired by Bromsgrove District Council, have been stolen.

Pieces of sandstone, thought to have been broken off tombs, have been piled up at the edge of the churchyard and the bottom of the church steps.

Police have been informed of the attacks, which were discovered last Wednesday.

In January the church is to launch a major fundraising campaign to raise £500,000 to repair its roof and crumbling soft sandstone fabric.

Jenny Ashmore, who lives nearby and who chairs the church's fabric committee, said she was saddened by what confronted her when she visited the church.

However, she said one of the vandals may have left a vital clue as to his or her identity in the shape a distinctive design which repeatedly appears among the grafitti on both the church and tombstones.

Jenny believes it was not drawn at random and may be familiar to someone's art teacher or their family or friends.

The church appeal, which the Advertiser/Messenger is supporting, is likely to be based on 500 local teams running 500 projects to raise £500 in 1,000 days and known as the "The 500,000" project.

If successful it will raise £250,000, the balance it is hoped coming from grants.

Meanwhile, a management team of about ten people is being recruited together with about 50 stewards each of whom will track ten teams and their projects when they get started next January. Volunteers should contact the parish office on 01527 878801 or e-mail parishoffice@fish.co.uk