A vicar told today of his shock after burglars caused thousands of pounds worth of damage to his Abingdon church.

The thieves even drank four bottles of communion wine, as well as smashing open a safe and breaking the church photocopier, computer and duplicator.

They gouged bricks off the walls of the church offices, leaving property covered in dust and broken glass.

The attack happened Sunday night or Monday morning but police only released details late yesterday.

The Rev Geoff Maughan, vicar of Christ Church, in Northcourt Road, said: "It was an awful scene. In my office, they had smashed up the photocopier so there was broken glass everywhere. They had also ripped the front off the safe which they must have spent hours doing. They had also broken into the wine cupboard and had drunk four bottles of communion wine." "I was particularly upset because several thousand pounds worth of damage had been caused - all for the sake of getting the petty cash inside the safe."

The 50-year-old vicar also found his robes trampled and covered in brick dust.

Pc Jeffrey Wheble, of Abingdon police, said the burglars had gone "on a wanton rampage". He said: "They absolutely trashed the place."

Spots of blood were found in the church and police are analysing samples.

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