A CHURCH in Blandford was targeted by vandals who threw stones at the Grade I listed building, which shattered windows and hurt someone inside.

North Dorset Police say a stone was thrown at the window of the Blandford Forum Parish Church (St Peter and Paul’s) in Church Lane at around 7.50pm on Thursday, January 30 which caused a window to smash.

A person who was inside the church at the time reportedly suffered a minor laceration injury.

Police say that 30 minutes later, another stone was thrown at the church, which smashed another window.

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Later that week, on Sunday, February 2, church occupants found a stone inside the building and noticed a further three windowpanes had been smashed.

Police community support investigator Kayleigh Hole, of Blandford Police, said: “This Grade I listed building is of great historical and cultural significance to the local community and has incurred considerable damage and expense because of someone’s actions.

“We are continuing to investigate this incident and I would ask any local residents or motorists driving in the area at the time of the offence to please review their home CCTV cameras and dashcams to see if they have captured anything of relevance.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police by calling 101 using reference number 55250015676 or to submit information via the Dorset Police website.

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