THE reverend of a Taunton church said the “outpouring of love from the community was great” after windows were damaged and smashed.

Glass panels as well as stained glass windows at St Peter’s Church on Eastwick Road in Taunton were smashed over the weekend.

Debbi Turley, the reverend at the church, said however that the incident “brought the community together in some way”.

She said the church received “a great response” and people are also contributing to raise funds to repair the windows.

Rev Debbi Turley said: “I went in the church on Sunday morning (August 4), and I noticed something was on the floor, and I realised it was glass.

“I looked up and three panels were broken and other three panels were cracked.

“I thought that was it, but some stained glass had come out and there were damage to a side window.

“They are 6x4, they are all lead and more expensive to repair.

“We do not know how much the damage was worth. We are speaking to the insurance.

“We set up a fundraising page to raise the £350 to £500 excess, which we have smashed.

“We had a great response from the community, from both Priorswood and Taunton, and even the United States.

“The outpouring of love from this community was great.

“We were upset on Sunday, but this could have been a sad story, but it turned into a good news story. It brought the community together in a way.

“Things that happen should not define you. We are going to use it positively.”

An Avon and Somerset Police spokesperson said: "We received a report on Sunday, August 4, about criminal damage to a church on Eastwick Road, in Taunton.

"Windows were damaged sometime between Friday, August 2 and Sunday, August 4.

"If you were in the area and heard anything suspicious, or witnessed the incident, please call us on 101 and quote reference 5224203569."