PANES of glass have been smashed at a Dunbar church in an act of “mindless” vandalism.

Dunbar Parish Church was targeted last month, with police officers carrying out enquiries into the incident.

The Rev Gordon Stevenson, minister at the church on the town’s Queen’s Road, said the church was currently seeking quotes to repair the damage.

He said: “It’s a bit sad. The expectation is it is young folk who have been drinking and maybe it is just part of their bravado.

“Normally, there is a light there and it has been smashed as well.

“The church tries to do a lot of good in the community and this is just mindless damage.”

The panes of glass are to the rear of the church, which was rebuilt after it was reduced to a “red sandstone shell” in January 1987 following a fire.

Mr Stevenson said the area had been boarded up since the vandalism last month.

He added that the church could be spending money in a more productive way and helping those in the community who were in need.

He stressed there was little of monetary value in the church worth stealing and added: “If they want a Bible, we will give them one.”

The incident was highlighted at the town’s community council meeting last Monday evening.

Constable Gavin Ross told members that panes of glass at the church had been smashed between August 15 and 16.

The officer also highlighted that a number of cars were vandalised on East Links Road, which runs parallel to Queen’s Road, where vehicles were also damaged.

It is thought the vehicles were vandalised over a couple of weeks in August, either by being hit with stones thrown from Queen’s Road or “scratched with a sharp implement”.

After the meeting, the officer told the Courier it was an area where youngsters had been known to hang around.

He said: “It is particularly disappointing people would do that to a building of historical interest.”

PC Ross said police were not ruling out the vandalism at the church and damaged vehicles being connected.