THE 'staggering sum' of more than £6,000 has been donated to St Michael's Church at Brentor following the recent vandalism to the building, the Rev Ian Sykes has revealed.

It is now a month since the church was vandalised, and Mr Sykes said the publicity given to the damage through the media had brought 'a heartfelt response from so many people across the area, and indeed across the West Country'.

Mr Sykes said: 'All have expressed their sense of grief and outrage and many have sent a donation for the restoration of St Michael's.

'One month on, we have received the staggering sum of over £6,000 in donations.'

More than 80 people had sent donations directly, and many others supported the car boot sale and strawberry tea held at the Brentor Inn.

'This sum will not only make possible the repairs, but also to redecorate the interior, removing the water damage caused by the fire extinguisher being let off,' Mr Sykes said.

The smashed window — the major damage — has been removed for restoration, and other work is proceeding.

Once repaired, the church will be kept open again — something many donors had said should happen — and ways of making the building more secure as a deterrent to future damage are being explored.

Evening prayer will be held in the church on Sunday, July 21 at 6.30pm, to which everyone is invited.

Mr Sykes, on behalf of the parochial church council of Brentor, thanked everyone who had been in contact with them, sent gifts, or offered prayers.

He also thanked the media for their coverage, and issued a special thanks to the Post Office, who had delivered several letters addressed to 'The Vicar, Brentor'.