VANDALS have caused damage estimated at more than £90,000 to East Witton church this week after heaving rocks through eight windows, including fine examples of Victorian stained glass.

"It's wanton vandalism," said the churchwarden, John Brown, and the rector, the Rev Brendan Giblin, added: "I have never seen anything so systematic. It is sickening."

A rock was also thrown through the vestry window at Middleham church during the same period this week and during the summer other windows have been broken there.

"These incidents may be related, but that at East Witton was at a different level - a completely different scale," said Mr Giblin.

At East Witton, the perpetrators must have collected conkers from elsewhere before going to the church and may have used catapults. But then they moved on to cricket ball-sized rocks, heaving them so hard at the windows that some, after smashing through the glass, ended up on the other side of the building.

They managed to smash the rocks through the meshing protecting four stained glass windows, two behind the font and two at the west side. They also attacked the magnificent stained glass windows at the east end, but failed to break them.

A piece of metalwork was broken off from a grave and thrown at another window. It could take years for the church to get all the damage repaired.

About eight of the congregation worked hard all Wednesday afternoon to clear up the glass after the damage was spotted by the bellringers on Tuesday evening.

"One or two were close to tears," said the lay reader, Barry Newsam. Judy Metcalfe added: "We never thought this could happen in the Dales."

About 30 people regularly worship at East Witton, but in various ways it serves all the 250 people living nearby.

Both churches are integral to these Dales' communities, not only as places of worship but also as centres for social events, including concerts.

The visitors' book at East Witton shows how important that church is to many visitors who stop to enjoy a time of peacefulness and contemplation. Just recently these included some from America and a couple who returned to remember their wedding there 55 years ago.

The stone throwing this week occurred some time between Sunday lunchtime and late Tuesday afternoon, quite likely during daylight hours.

Police confirmed the incident had been reported.

Mr Brown would be grateful for any information about any youths seen around the church or any vehicles, including bicycles, parked by St John's during that period.

His telephone number is 01969 622657.