Burglars have targeted seven Hyndburn churches, stealing electrical equipment worth thousands and collection money.

Police said the raids have all taken place in the last six weeks, while a nursery has been attacked twice.

Church officials are worried about break-ins and more windows being smashed over Christmas and the New Year.

There have been nine incidents at seven churches, of which six are in Oswaldtwistle and one in Huncoat. Laptops, £100 of collection money, wine and power tools were among the stolen items.

The Rev John Holland, the vicar of Immanuel Parish Church, All Saints Church and St Paul's Church, all in Oswaldtwistle, is concerned about the thefts and vandalism.

He said: "Churches are there to serve and do good things for the community. So it’s a shame this is happening. The equipment taken will probably end up as someone’s Christmas present."

The burglaries at the churches were:

  • November 5 – Immanuel Parish Church, New Lane, Oswaldtwistle. Communion wine and chocolate biscuits stolen after thieves smashed a window.
  • November 18 – All Saints Church, Aspen Lane, Oswaldtwistle, Stanhill Pre-School Before and After School Care. A quantity of cash stolen from inside.
  • November 24 – Huncoat Methodist Church, Station Road. More than £500 worth of power tools stolen after a window forced open.
  • November 26 – All Saints Church, Aspen Lane, Oswaldtwistle. Stanhill Pre-School Before and After School Care. Two laptops and a computer monitor taken from the site after a window was bricked.
  • December 4 – New Lane Baptist Church, New Lane, Oswaldtwistle. Cash taken after glass panel smashed.
  • December 11 – Immanuel Parish Church, New Lane, Oswaldtwistle. Three bottles of communion wine stolen shortly after window smashed.
  • December 12 – St Paul’s Church, Catlow Hall Street, Oswaldtwistle. Attempted break-in. A door damaged.
  • December 12 – Rhyddings Methodist Church, Chapel Street, Oswaldtwistle. Vandalism.
  • December 16 – Holy Trinity Church, New Lane, Oswaldtwistle. £100 of collection money stolen.

Church-going Immanuel Coun Judith Addison said there was no excuse for stealing from churches or from charity.

She added: "I think it’s really despicable."

A spokesperson for the Blackburn Diocese said: "Churches are centres of community care and encouragement. Attacks through vandalism and theft are callous acts of destruction and desecration against the communities Christian churches seek to serve."

A police spokesperson said: "We are investigating these incidents and would urge anyone with information to come forward and contact the police either by calling us on 101 or calling Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."