A CHURCHYARD plagued by a gang of teenagers has become a venue for drugs, drink and teenage sex.

The Rev Paul Richardson of All Saints Church, Westbury says the gang's behaviour is sacrilege.

Obscene grafitti is scrawled on gravestones, teenagers use the church porch as a toilet and cannabis joints are scattered across the churchyard on a daily basis.

The situation is so bad, a 90-year-old man living close to the churchyard is too scared to leave his home as young couples engage in drunken sex yards from his front door.

Other residents watch in horror as the gang engage in mass drink and drug binges that are usually associated with deprived inner-city housing estates.

Mr Richardson is reduced to spending hours before wedding and church services picking up empty beer cans and bottles and scrubbing rude messages off stone walls and gravestones.

Police in Westbury are bringing in video cameras to record the outrageous antics and will target parents of teenagers found committing illegal acts.

Mr Richardson is appealing for the community to help rid his churchyard of the ongoing menace.

He said: "It is totally unacceptable. These children have absolutely no respect for anything or anyone.

"Among the worst things they are doing is having sex in the churchyard and by the graves. There is a lot of sexual activity going on.

"They are yelling and shouting at passers-by. People living nearby are scared.

"The graffiti consists of absolutely foul words.

"People visiting the graveyard are distraught. It is complete sacrilege.

"I am also concerned for the safety of those youngsters. Some of the things they are getting up to are not good for them. There is a fear that older people may be exploiting them for whatever purposes they have."

He added that the teenagers' visits to the graveyard were now a regular occurence.

He said: "This is happening every day. They have used the porch as a dumping ground for cans and bottles. We have to wash it out every day as it's used for a urinal. This is where the brides are meant to enter the church.

"I am sure some of the teenagers' parents would be horrified if they knew what was going on."

Mr Richardson said he is particularly worried about young girls seen with men in their late 20s and early 30s.

There are added fears that the young teens' behaviour will attract the attention of sex perverts lurking in the town.

A police campaign to rid Westbury High Street of troublesome gangs proved successful last year but officers fear they have driven the menace into the churchyard.

Night-time raids are planned to frighten off the gang as police resort to toughened measures.

Sgt Jim Stannard said the community will not allow degrading activities to carry on in a sacred place of worship.

He said: "There is a total lack of respect. We cured the problem last year with a forceful police presence.

"There is evidence of sexual activity and drug use. Elderly residents are looking out of their windows and seeing this appalling behaviour. The gang can be 15 to 20 strong.

"We have spoken to the headteacher at Matravers and the school have taken a positive approach.

"We aim to crack down on the problem and if we see any offences we'll be very forceful. This is a community issue."

Anyone who wants to report illegal activity in All Saints churchyard can call Westbury police on (01373) 822171.