Churchyards are intended to be a place of peace and harmony. They are where loved ones pay their respects to lost relatives and people gather to celebrate the union of one person with another after marriage services.

But the All Saints churchyard in Westbury is far from the serene place it should be.

A gang of mindless youths believe it is their own private den of debauchery. Engaging in under-age sex, drug taking and drinking binges, they have turned the area from a place of harmony to a zone of sin.

Vicar Paul Richardson is brave to come forward and admit there is a serious problem at his church, but it is now up to the community to respond.

Police are taking a professional approach. They have not waded in with officers and created a stand-off atmosphere, but come up with sensible solutions.

They have called for the public of Westbury to unite against the gang to end their depraved antics.

The whole situation is sordid, but the worst element is the distress caused to people whose loved ones are buried at the church.

This gang of youths are not typical of youth culture in Westbury. They are selfish, mean individuals who need to be brought to justice for their actions.