AN EDEN church will be closed over the Christmas period following a series of acts of vandalism which included a youth urinating inside the building.

Appleby's St Lawrence's Church has fallen victim to several incidents, forcing the Rev Roger Collinson to close its doors on weekend afternoons and school holidays.

Parishioners have been left "appalled" and "worried" by the catalogue of incidents which have included prayer boards being defaced, spitting competitions, curtains being pulled down, littering, two instances of urinating and a church helper being "threatened".

"This is a place that is very special and precious to people," said the Rev Sarah Lunn, team rector of the Heart of Eden team ministry. "We have an elderly congregation and what we want is to be open and welcome.

"This time of year is about hospitality and good will."

The church council hoped to install CCTV cameras inside the building and applied to Cumbria's Police and Crime Commissioner's property fund, but was refused as it did not fulfil "all of the criteria".

But Miss Lunn said the organisation would continue with plans for installing CCTV cameras in the Grade I listed church, usually open seven days a week between 8am and 5.30pm.

She added it could cost the church more than £1,000.