These are not things you would normally associate with a churchyard but for Paston All Saints Church, in Fulbridge Road, they are an all to familiar occurance.

Speaking in front of windows damaged by catapults, Church Verger Lance Bloom said: "It's just mindless, these people have no aim other than destruction. It's really sad."

Mr Bloom has teamed up with the police to try and protect the 850-year-old church which has been blighted with broken windows, anti-social behaviour, and has had graffiti daubed on the war memorial. He is calling for residents to help.

Police community support officers (PCSOs) Tom Rowe and Matt Nicholson from the Neighbourhood Police Team (NPT) joined Mr Bloom on a walkabout on Thursday evening as part of the joint initiative to cut crime in this unusual hotspot.

The trio spent the evening door-knocking on neighbouring houses to see if people had any information and to promote awareness of the problems befalling the church.

PCSO Rowe said: "We hope to engage with people and show them that the neighbourhood police are accessible. With the recent increase of metal thefts nationally and the coming lighter summer months, an increase in anti-social behaviour often follows it."

Following each attack, the church has been forced to pay out hundreds of pounds from its meagre funds to clean-up the mindless destruction.

The church has already seen the positive result people being vigilant can have with two lead thieves being arrested last year. Two men were spotted pulling strips of lead from the roof by an alert neighbour who called the police. The lucrative trade in metals has enticed thieves in Peterborough to climb up church roofs to strip them of their valuable lead.

Other problems which have arisen are due in part to the secluded nature of the church. Large groups tend to gather there which has in turn led to vandalism of church property as well as large amounts of litter left behind.

Police in the area have already moved on 50 people this year in an effort to prevent the problem.

The scheme got off to a successful start and with people approaching the PCSOs to give them information.

Speaking after the walkabout, Mr Bloom, said: "It went very, very well, better than expected.

n If you have any information on these issues, call Cambridgeshire Constabulary's Non-Emergency number 0845 456 4564.