Vandals urinate in Sunderland church holy water Published duration 11 September 2015

image copyright Google image caption Nothing was taken during the raid on the church, but a window was smashed and doors damaged

Vandals have broken into a Sunderland church and urinated in holy water.

The would-be thieves smashed through a window at St Mary's Roman Catholic Church, Bridge Street, and used fire extinguishers to break down doors.

Father Marc Lyden-Smith said a police officer had smelled urine from a stoup and said he found it "incredible" anyone could do such a thing.

He said nothing was taken during the break-in on Thursday.

"Our cleaning volunteers came in on Thursday morning and saw the damage," Father Lyden-Smith said.

"A police officer noticed there seemed to be urine in the holy water stoup. It is incredible.

"It has been cleaned out, of course."

He added: "It is disappointing but it is the year of mercy and we have to keep that in our thoughts."