RISHTON residents were horrified when sick vandals daubed racist and anti-religious graffiti, including Nazi swastikas and Ku Klux Klan symbols, across all four of the town's churches.

The apparently co-ordinated attacks, described as sinister by one church leader, took place overnight on Monday.

A number of windows were broken and similar graffiti was also scrawled on a shop on Spring Street, garages on George Street and Rishton Library.

The total bill for damage is expected to be thousands of pounds.

Ian Kitchin, building manager for Rishton Methodist Church on Albert Street, said: "We have had stuff sprayed on the walls before but there seems to be something more sinister about this.

"All the churches in the town have been hit so it's not like they have just gone down one street and done all the doors.

"We are very upset because we feel we do a very good job in Rishton and we could really do without something like this happening."

Rishton Baptist Church on Commercial Street had racist graffiti written on its wall which included offensive remarks aimed at the town's Asian population.

There were also two swastikas daubed across the windows.

Jim Clarke, church treasurer, said: "It makes you wonder what sort of minds they must have to do something like this. You just can't credit the mentality of it at all.

"I haven't seen the other churches but I believe some of them were badly hit as well. It's just very upsetting."

St Charles' RC Church on Station Road had swastikas and KKK, which stands for Ku Klux Klan, daubed across it.

Father Martin Saunders said: "This is the first attack of this kind since I became priest here. But it is not a major worry as we have more serious things to worry about than people who do this. If anyone has any information I would urge them to give it to the police to help with their investigation."

The Rev Michael Woods, vicar of St Peter and St Paul's Church on Blackburn Road, said: "It's absolutely terrible. This has shocked the whole community. We have not known anything like this before in Rishton.

"It's very difficult to understand why anyone would do these things. I have racked my brains and the only thing I can think is that churches are public places and many work closely with other faiths to build up good relationships.

"The vandals are trying to tear it apart. I would like to tell them it's tearing out the heart of the community but it has turned the commuinity against them."

Inspector John O'Reilly of Great Harwood Police said: "Inquiries are underway to find out exactly who was responsible for this attack.

"Nazi signs and graffiti of a racist and offensive nature have been scawled across a number of properties and as such we are treating these incidents very seriously.

"I appeal to anyone who can help with our inquiries to come forward.

"The people responsible for this attack of needless and wanton vandalism clearly have no respect for other people."

Anyone with information should contact the police on 0845 125 3545 or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.