The vicar of a vandalised village church has offered the hand of friendship to the culprits, writes Ian Townsend.

"They obviously need help and I am asking them to come to me for a chat," said the Rev Chris Denham, vicar of Haddenham, near Thame.

The vandals smashed crockery inside the church and ransacked cupboards in the vestry.

Mr Denham said: "I do not feel angry or particularly upset.

I feel concerned about the people who did it. They need help and I would like to give it." The attack on St Mary's is the latest in a string of crimes, including the smashing of windows in the village hall and a fire in the thatched roof of a 92-year-old woman's cottage.

The crimes prompted angry residents to condemn the lack of policing in rural communities.

Parish councillor Mike Whitney felt despair at the latest incident.

"How low can you go" he said.

"It makes you feel helpless."

He criticised policing and the lack of a strong hand from magistrates when the culprits are caught. A Thames Valley Police spokesman said: "We are looking into the incident and hope to catch the culprits. We do our best with the resources we have to fight crime in our rural villages."