WEEKEND vandals have left the congregation of a historic church devastated - and desperately in need of cash to carry out repairs.

The windows fronting the Cross Keys Methodist Church are being smashed regularly with pebbles and scrap from a nearby abandoned railway.

The church's minister, the Rev Soba Sinnathamby, said: "We come in every Sunday and the floor is covered in glass.

"This is a place of worship and belongs to us - it is really devastating. "We feel hurt and sorry for the people who are doing this."

The first attack on the oldest-surviving Methodist church in the area happened on December 28 last year.

Church secretary John Prosser, 78, of Park View, Cross Keys, said he had no idea who the vandals were.

He said: "It happens at night at the weekends and the police don't know who is doing it. "We've had to cover the windows with brown paper. It looks pretty grim. "I've been the secretary for 50 years and there's never been vandalism like this."

The church committee replaced some of the glass after the first attack, but it was smashed again. They now want to replace it with toughened PVC glass costing £3,000 - but do not have the money.Mr Sinnathamby said: "We are a poor church. "There are only 35 members and none are employed.

"We have asked the General Synod of the Methodist Church in Manchester for funds, but will need to raise the rest ourselves."

PC Jim Thompson, of Risca police, confirmed several incidents were being investigated. He said: "The church reported three incidents, one in December, one on January 29, and one on March 17."

The church was built by one of the earliest Methodist communities in Wales. The founders used to meet in a cottage on the Pontywaun bridge. Mr Prosser said: "It was a split-level cottage, also used to weigh coal heading downriver."

A church was built on the Cross Keys site in 1863, before being knocked down to make way for today's church - built in 1875.

*PICTURED: Church secretary John Prosser outside the church.