VANDALS at a church near Portsmouth have destroyed the stone font.

When St George’s, Waterlooville, was unlocked, they pushed the font over, smashing it on the floor. They also damaged the Paschal candle.

A churchwarden, Rosy Stone, said: “This is a seemingly completely senseless act of vandalism in our church. This font was very special to so many people who have been baptised here over the years.”

The crime was discovered last Friday as the church was being locked up at the end of the day. The Vicar, Canon Michael Sheffield, said: “We always want our church to be open during the day. So many people come through the doors to pray, light a candle for a loved one, or simply to sit quietly. This was a horrible shock for us all, but the church is its congregation, and we continue undeterred.

“We pray for those responsible, and that they will have the conscience to confess to this appalling crime.”

In a possibly related act, a window of the adjoining church hall was smashed.