Donations to pay for thousands of pounds of repairs after thieves went on a wrecking spree at a church have come flooding in.

Well-wishers have dug deep to meet the bill, thought to run into about £10,000, at St Margaret's Church, Rainham High Street.

The town's St Thomas of Canterbury RC Church was also targeted by vandals over the weekend.

Raiders got into St Margaret's, a building dating back 900 years, by smashing their way through a stained glass window.

The caretaker alerted staff and police early Sunday after opening up.

Morning Mass was scrapped while staff and police surveyed the ransacked premises, but the evening service did go ahead.

Vicar Rev Nathan Ward described the response from the public as "phenomenal".

Within hours, a JustGiving page had topped £1,800 and funeral director John Weir, who held at a memorial service for loved ones there on Saturday, has pledged a £500 rewards for an arrest leading to conviction.

Rev Ward said: "We pride ourselves in engaging with our community and the thing is all they had to do was let us know and we would have helped. You don't have to break into somewhere to get help.

"This is a season where we especially think of those whose lives have taken a wrong turn and would welcome an opportunity to meet with those involved so we can help and support them. We bear no ill will.

"We are particularly upset about the stained glass window which we believe dates back to 1903 – and survived two world wars."

Rev Ward says money collected would go towards stepping up security, including a new CCTV system, and repairing damage.

"At the moment it appears they have taken very little – about £200 in cash," he added.

It is understood forensic examinations have been completed and inquiries are ongoing to identify whether the incidents are linked.

Nobody from St Thomas of Canterbury was available to comment.

Anyone with any information, is asked to call police on 01634 792209 quoting reference 08-0410.

Alternatively you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or by using the anonymous online form at Crimestoppers-uk.org.

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