AN EXPENSIVE stained glass window at a Blackwood church has been damaged during a burglary.

Several thousands of pounds worth of damage is thought to have been caused to St Margaret's Church in the High Street, when thieves broke in through a door.

The Rev David Jones said a similar incident occurred about seven years ago, when two stained glass windows were vandalised. Each cost 4,500 to repair.

He believes this time the church window could cost up to 5,000 to fix.

The thieves also ransacked the kitchen cupboards and took around 5 in change donated by the congregation.

Mr Jones said that when the church warden went into the church the day after the incident, she saw the damage and was reduced to tears.

"I felt sick when I saw it," he said. "We had been celebrating my birthday with a party in the vicarage the day before, and this certainly made us all come back down to earth with a bump."

Crime and disorder reduction officer PC Wayne Roberts, at Blackwood police station, said: "I cannot understand why anyone would want to break into a church.