CHURCH leaders have expressed their disgust at vandals who defecated in a pulpit and spread the mess on to stained glass windows.

The doors at St Edburg's Church, in Church Street, Bicester, have been bolted following the attack.

Yobs went inside and used a corner of the church as a lavatory before using a cloth bag to smear the contents around the building, including on the windows.

Verger Colin Boyce, 68, who had to clear up after the incident on Saturday, April 5, said he had never seen anything like it in his five years at the church.

He said: "My first reaction was fury and sadness. I am very sad that these youths think this is an appropriate thing to do in a church."

The church has now been closed to the public and is only open when there is a volunteer or member of the clergy inside. Up to 20 people visit the church every day.

Mr Boyce said: "You will be surprised as to how many people like to go into the church.

"We are arranging for people to be in there until we are satisfied and know who has done this and that they will be dealt with."

Police are investigating the incident and have appealed for witnesses to come forward.

PC Vicky Lees, Bicester town neighbourhood officer, said: "This is shocking behaviour and, thankfully, something we do not deal with very often.

"Closing the church is a great shame for the people who go there on a regular basis to say their prayers."

Father David Bouskill, 32, a vicar at St Edburg's Church, said: "This is just revolting.

"We work really hard to keep the church open but, at the moment, because of the actions of these mindless people, we have had to lock the church, which means no-one can use it."

Fr Bouskill said members of the congregation were being asked to keep an eye on the church while it is open, particularly after another incident this week.

On Monday, a mother and daughter visited the cemetery to find that some lights and a personal laminated placard had been taken from two gravestones.

Mr Boyce said: "These things are of no use to anybody else, yet people do it purely for fun and think it is amusing. They have no idea of the impact on the people who own these things."

Anyone with information is urged to call police on 0845 8505 505 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.