Thieves looking for valuables ransacked a church and the vestry.

They broke down an interior door and tried to open the safe with a crowbar.

They also stole a set of keys and tried to enter the church again but were foiled when the keys did not work.

Churchwarden Ken Wheeler discovered the mess when he and his wife arrived to clean Dovercourt's All Saints' Church early in the morning.

He said: "They took a crowbar to the vestry window, which is plate glass, and broke in through that.

"Then they rampaged through the vestry emptying drawers and took keys off a rack to try to open the safe which is full of church valuables.

"None of the keys fitted so they were left strewn on the floor."

Mr Wheeler added the thieves also stole a set of keys which fit an outside door - but only work from inside the building.

He said it is believed the crooks returned later and tried to get in using the keys. They also stole a fountain pen.

Mr Wheeler said the total cost of the damage, stolen property and replacing the lock for security reasons amounts to £100.

In 1994, the doors to All Saints' were locked, except for services, after vandals left candles burning and stubbed out cigarettes on the piano stool.

Mr Wheeler, of The Drive, Dovercourt, said the church is broken into about once a year and last time £800 worth of property was taken.

The Rev Stephen Hardie said he felt "very sad and annoyed" about the incident which happened overnight on February 26-27.

Anyone with information should contact Harwich police on 01255 241312.

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