Church gravestone and decorations vandalized.

The vicar of St Andrew's Church in Hove, Sussex, expressed his shock after discovering extensive damage in the churchyard, part of what he described as a continuing struggle with anti-social activities.

CCTV footage captured a man destroying outdoor lighting, uprooting flowers from a World War Two memorial, and attempting to remove a gravestone. Reverend Dan Henderson told BBC Radio Sussex: Visitors come here seeking peace and reflection... its shocking to see such actions for no apparent reason.

Sussex Police reported the incident occurred around 19:10 GMT on 27 November and urged anyone with information to come forward. Rev Henderson explained that concerns were first raised by the churchs youth group after discovering damaged string lights. Only after reviewing the CCTV footage did he grasp the full scale of the destruction.

When contacting authorities, Rev Henderson was reportedly told that limited action could be taken. Everything can be replaced, but our church operates on a tight budget, he said. We are exploring ways to restore the lights and continue welcoming people to our Advent and Christmas services.

Despite the setback, Rev Henderson remained optimistic ahead of the churchs upcoming Christingle service. This year, and for the entire Church of England, our Christmas theme is joy. True joy isnt found only in material gifts, but in the deep, enduring joy that Jesus brings, which cannot be taken away by events like this, he stated.

Sussex Police described the suspect as a white male in his 60s, approximately 6ft (1.80m) tall, with grey hair, wearing a black and red jacket and black trousers.

Author: Sophia Brooks