Horrified members of a Newton Abbot congregation found ‘highly offensive’ graffiti plastered on the wall of their Shaldon Road Methodist Church.

Margaret Cunniffe-Smith, who is a church steward organist and treasurer, said: ‘It is so awful I can’t even say or describe what they put on the wall.’

She sent the Mid-Devon Advertiser pictures of the graffiti, most of which we are unable to print in a family paper.

‘Everyone is more broad minded these days but even so, there was no need for this.

‘I suppose it was bored young people but this is really upsetting for those of us who are in the church community.’

From an early quote they expect the vandalism could cost the church at least £350 to put right.

‘It’s so horrible we just want to get rid of it as quick as we can,’ said Mrs Cunniffe-Smith.

The Rev Gill Daniel said: ‘It was distressing for everyone as it was very graphic.

‘We’re hoping to remove it as soon as possible but as it’s been scrawled on bricks we can’t just paint it over.

‘The police regard it as an anti-religious or hate crime.

‘We obviously don’t condone this sort of behaviour but at the end of the day we are Christian people and if they were to come forward to the police we would forgive them and move on.’

A police spokesman said: ‘On Tuesday 26 January, police were alerted to an incident of criminal damage that is believed to be racially or religiously motivated.

‘The incident involved highly offensive graffiti drawn with red paint on a wall of the Shaldon Road Methodist Church in Newton Abbot.

‘Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact police on 101 or by emailing [email protected] quoting reference number CR/6477/21.’