VANDALS have smashed a valuable stained glass window at one of Cheltenham's oldest buildings.
Thugs hurled two bricks through a Victorian-era window at St Mary's Church in Cheltenham town centre, smashing the beautiful artwork.
It will cost around £5,000 to have the window repaired by a stained glass specialist, which the church's insurance company will pay for.
The Rev Tudor Griffiths, rector at the church, said that he had been left stunned by the vandalism. He said a member of the congregation had been in the church at the time of the attack.
"It's very difficult to understand the mentality of someone who would do this. It's such a mindless act," he added.
"There's a wall in the churchyard which was kicked down a few weeks ago and there were loose bricks which whoever did this obviously saw as ammunition.
"They threw two bricks through different parts of the same window.
"There was mesh in place to protect the window but the bricks were thrown so hard that they went through it.
"Someone was inside the church at the time, and it was quite a shock for them to hear the smash.
"The insurance will cost a fortune.
"The stained glass dated back to the Victorian era and we will go to a specialist to replace it."
The attack on the church comes not long after it became Cheltenham Minster, a title which was bestowed to honour its historic and cultural significance.
It is believed to be the oldest building in Cheltenham, and dates back to the 13th century.
The vandalism, which happened shortly before 1pm on April 30, has been reported to Gloucestershire police.
Vandals have attacked the church before with graffiti being sprayed on the ancient brickwork last year.
Traders in the area have been praising the success of a dispersal order which has been in force for the area during the last five months.
Rev Griffiths admitted there had been a drop in the amount of anti-social behaviour in the High Street but it had not completely stopped.
A 14-year-old boy became the first person to be charged since the order was introduced in December for breaching the order, returning to the area after being told to leave.
A police spokeswoman condemned whoever had damaged the windows and urged any witnesses to come forward. She said: "It's disappointing when criminal damage is caused to a community building."
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call police on 101, quoting incident number 216 of April 30.
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