Thieves have ruined Christmas celebrations for youngsters and schoolchildren by stealing valuable equipment from a community church.

Bolton Villas, a united reform church, believes it will struggle to hold festive concerts and services at the church and local schools this Christmas after £3,000 of equipment was stolen from the building.

Burglars smashed a stain glass window at the Livingstone Road church on Sunday night and stole a variety of equipment, including a mixer desk, radio equipment, television, and youth club gear.

Community events and sessions will also suffer a blow, including weekly youth club activities and mums and toddlers groups, as the equipment is a necessary part of teaching and activities.

Pastoral Evangelist Ashley Evans said Christmas would not be the same for many disappointed children and adults.

He said: "As a community church it stops us from providing for the community for a while. Christmas will be disappointing for the children. We will be able to do something but it will not be as effective as it could be. It will be a heart break to the congregation because everything has been provided by the members of the church.

"We are trying to be a relevant church and people have put their hands into their pockets so we can be more effective."

The incident has come as a shock to the church's leaders, who thought they had seen the last of vandals after a quiet year. Vandals were caught by police smashing the church's huts a year ago.

Mr Evans said: "We have not suffered any vandalism for a while. I just cannot believe how there is no respect for anything."

The 50-year-old four-foot round window, depicting the resurrection, was also damaged and is of sentimental value to the church as a former minister had paid for it.

Councillor Vanda Greenwood (Labour, Windhill and Wrose) was surprised at the news and said she would be organising a fundraising effort to replace the items.

She said: "The area has been quiet recently in terms of vandalism. The church is used a lot by the community and is a focal point for residents - we cannot have children disappointed at Christmas."