The Storehouse Church in Dorchester targeted by vandals

Five windows have been smashed at The Storehouse in Dorchester.

It comes after a window was also broken on Wednesday.

Pastor Mark Topp arrived at the church, on Cambridge Road, this morning to start cooking food to help feed the town's homeless - but was greeted by the sight of smashed glass.

He says he's frustrated it has happened again as it results in a 'waste of time, energy, money and resources.'

With the help of volunteers, the latest incident took more than eight hours to clean up.

"I want to understand why they are doing this," said Mr Topp. "I have nothing against them, I just want to know why.

"It's disappointing and frustrating. We already had boarded up windows from Wednesday and they've gone and done it again."

Mr Topp says he hopes a new camera will deter vandals in future.

"Hopefully, it doesn't happen again," he said. "But they are not going to stop us from feeding the homeless and we will carry on."

Earlier in the week, Mr Topp arrived at church to find a window had been smashed, showering shards of glass over some toys and equipment used for a toddlers play group.

Pictures showed tiny pieces of glass littering the floor where children's play equipment was stored.

It forced the church's regular toddlers group sessions to be postponed. While the sessions were meant to resume after half term, they cannot continue until the equipment can be replaced so that there is no risk of harm to the children.

Dorset Police confirmed officers were called to the church shortly before noon on Wednesday after rocks were thrown at the rear windows of the church.

They received further reports of criminal damage just after 8.30am today, when it was reported that five windows had been smashed.

"Enquiries are ongoing both reports," said a spokesman.

No arrests have been made.