Ref. 29641-105CHILDREN came close to being showered with broken glass when yobs attacked a Swindon church.

The 20 youngsters were performing at a music festival at All Saints' Church, Ferndale, when vandals threw stones at three panes of stained glass. Luckily, the glass was caught by wooden boards installed inside the windows.

The youngsters, from the Janice Thompson Singing School, refused to let the vandals disturb the show, which was being watched by about 40 parents.

Stephen Thompson, who helped organise the show, said: "The little boy who was performing at the time just carried on singing.

There was a gale blowing outside, and most people thought the wind had blown something at the building"

Mr Thompson raced outside, but the culprits ran off. The pink stained glass was installed when the church was built in the 1930s. Because the glass is pink it is no longer available, it will have to be replaced by plain glass and it will cost around £100.

Church warden Barbara Sheppard, said: "We installed the wooden boards at the top of the windows because they are quite draughty.

"Had they not been there, there could have been a nasty injury.

"I am particularly upset because the pink glass created a lovely warm glow there."

The church suffered from a spate of vandal attacks about 18 months ago.

Miss Sheppard said: "We have already put in protective mesh around most of the windows. But we can't protect all of them as some are just too big."

Police want to trace four youths seen running away from the church after the attack, which happened at 5pm on Saturday. Two were wearing blue or black quilted jackets. Anyone who saw what happened should call Swindon police on 01793 528111.