THE chapel at Devizes Cemetery will be unusable for several months after vandals smashed eight stained glass windows causing thousands of pounds of damage.

Town council staff were shocked to find terrible damage to the historic windows on all sides of the chapel when they went to work on Monday morning.

Deputy town clerk Simon Fisher said: "We have a bit of vandalism here in the past but nothing like this. We really couldn't believe how bad it was. It is just mindless.

"I really don't think this was the work of children just throwing stones. It would have taken a huge amount of strength and force to bend the metal part of the windows as much as they have been.

"It is very upsetting for everyone. Even the PCSO who came out after we reported the damage seemed visibly shocked by it. No vandalism is nice but for it to happen to a building like this seems so much worse. It is such a beautiful and calming spot here and many people like to come and just sit."

Mr Fisher said the chapel, which dates from 1878, would have to be closed and not used for services until stained glass window experts employed by Salisbury Cathedral have carried out repair work.

He said: "The windows will have to removed and boarded up so the interior will be completely dark so it will be impossible to hold burial services. They will have to be held either at the graveside or at one of the churches in the town."

Chunks of rock and sticks were found inside the chapel and smashed candles were also on the floor.

Parks supervisor Michael Aiston discovered the vandalism on Monday morning but it is thought the damage was carried out over the weekend.

He said that a few days earlier toilets in the cemetery had been left in a state of disarray by a rough sleeper and a decision had now been make to keep these locked when the cemetery is closed.

The chapel was due to be used on Saturday as a meeting point and refreshment centre when volunteers will carry out work to nearby Belvedere Woods but different arrangements will now have to be made.

A Wiltshire police spokesman said: "We have received a report of criminal damage at the chapel in Devizes Cemetery, where eight stained glass windows have been smashed. We are investigating and would ask anyone with information to contact us."