A Cumbrian church which has been repeatedly targeted by vandals will be forced to pay thousands of pounds in a bid to protect it from future attacks.

In 2016, St Kentigern's Church, in Aspatria, suffered a spate of criminal damage, with four incidents reported in six months.

And, last week, it was targeted again by vandals and had one of its stained glass windows smashed.

Now the vicar, the Reverend Tim Herbert, has said the church and community will be forced to fundraise to install window guards to prevent more damage.

He said: "We've had a rash of incidents last year and, although this incident isn't big, it's enough to be annoying and expensive.

"It will cost between £800 and £1,000 to replace the window, but it's not the value, it's the nuisance and irritation."

Rev Herbert added that window guards will cost about £5,000 to buy and install, and it will be down to the community and church to fundraise to help pay for it.

He said: "We need to get it done before any more windows are broken.

"It's sad that these kind of incidents of vandalism happen. We want to make sure we protect our building.

"We hope that with the people's support we'll be able to raise the money we need and that these incidents won't happen in the future."

A spokesman for Cumbria police said the force is appealing for anyone with information on the incident, which happened overnight on Sunday, July 16, to call 101.

St Kentigern's Church is a grade two-listed building, built in sandstone in 1846-8, in a tall Early English style.

It replaced a smaller Norman building, fragments of which were incorporated into the new building.