VANDALS PAINT OFFENSIVE SLOGANS ON WIGSTON CHURCH WALLS

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Vandals paint offensive slogans on Wigston church walls

Vandals have daubed anti-religious slogans over a church and community centre.

Officials at Central Avenue Christian Church, in Wigston, discovered the crude messages yesterday and its minister and volunteers spent the day trying to wash the graffiti off the walls using a high-pressure hose.

The slogans were painted on the front and side walls of the building in 9in-high letters.

Minister the Rev Alan Robinson, said: "The slogans were not very nice stuff, but we don't believe they were particularly aimed at our church, they were more against the Church in general.

"There are an awful lot of people who don't believe in God and don't think anyone else should either.

"I don't know how long it will take to get rid of.

"A police officer who came to investigate was going to ask if Oadby and Wigston Borough Council could help us remove it using its equipment.

"The police are very concerned and they took away a lid from the tin of paint which had been left behind.

"It's the first time we've had any problems such as this since we bought the building in about 1990.

"We demolished most of the building and rebuilt it as a church and community centre using voluntary labour."

From Monday to Friday, Central Avenue Community Link works with the church to operate a day centre for people with learning difficulties.

Mr Robinson said: "We help about 30 people aged from 25 to 50 and above with handicrafts, outings and computers.

"We are still running – this won't stop us.

"We're just about to start a drop-in centre on Tuesdays for anyone of any age who is lonely – because there is so much loneliness in the community.

"We have about 30 members but we are very active and very much involved with the community.

"We do more in the community than a lot of the larger churches."

Mr Robinson, who is one of two ministers at the church, said: "Whoever has done this hasn't just attacked the church, they've attacked the hub of the community as well."

A Leicestershire Police spokeswoman said: "Offensive words were painted on to the wall in Central Avenue some time between 6.50pm yesterday and 7.10am today.

"Anyone with any information about the incident or who may be responsible is asked to contact us."

The police can contacted on 101 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111