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Midlothian parishioners stunned by vandals' rampage

Vandals hurled wheelie bins and logs through stained-glass windows in a wrecking spree at a historic Lothians church.

The damage was discovered by church organist Jean Blades when she arrived to arrange flowers at Fala Village Church, near Pathhead, Midlothian.

A smashed window, which had been dedicated to the memory of her late husband, was among the damage she found.

Two wheelie bins were lodged in two of the windows and branches and logs had been used to break the rest. The damage has been estimated at £5000.

Mrs Blades, 86, who lives near the church, said: "It was devastating. There were stones and gravel and broken glass everywhere. They must have run amok. We were shocked by the sheer desecration. These vandals have no concept of what religion means."

Mrs Blades had given the "Pilgrim" window to the church in memory of her husband, the Reverend Daniel Blades, who had been vicar [sic] for more than 30 years. It was designed by acclaimed Scottish artist Crear McCartney.

Full story at the Edinburgh Evening News.