Police are searching for vandals who broke into a church and may have rung the bells.

A neighbour noticed the belfry door at St Hugh's Church, Quethiock, was open and investigation revealed that a grille over a stained glass window had been bent and the window smashed to allow the raiders access to the building.

Churchwarden Rachel Winstone said that once inside, whoever was responsible opened all the doors and left graffiti, including a crudely- drawn swastika, on the walls.

'Nothing was taken but it has left us with a lot of work to make repairs.

'People in the village have since told us they heard the bells ring at about 4am,' said Rachel.

'They seem to have let themselves out through the belfry door.'

Police are investigating the break-in and would like to hear from anyone who saw or heard anything suspicious in the area at the relevant times.