A CREWE church hit by vandals is in a crisis after paying one repair bill after another.
Angry worshippers of St Mark's Church in Bramhall Road, Wistaston, fear a bleak future for the building unless action is taken to stop mindless yobs smashing windows.
They say the church has been under constant attack since January, with foul-mouthed gangs hurling lumps of concrete and bricks from back alleyways at its windows.
Now many groups which use it as a meeting place are going elsewhere for fear of injury.
Repair bills running into thousands of pounds and the loss of fees paid by the groups has put the church in a difficult financial situation.
Church treasurer Reg Edge said: 'After 35 years St Mark's is very well-established in Crewe but these yobs are doing their best to close us down.
'We have to find £250 a week to function and we can't manage without it.'
A ChurchWatch scheme was launched in February to help prevent attacks.
It was set up with the support of Crewe and Nantwich Borough councillors and the help of the borough's Community Watch manager.
'ChurchWatch said we would get increased police presence, but it hasn't happened,' said Mr Edge.
Community Watch Manager Sarah Wilson commented: 'We need to reassess it and stress that residents can report incidents anonymously.'
