Statue smashed

Villagers in Buxted were horrified by the damage after being delighted by reconstruction of the statue of St John, which was returned outside St Mary's Church only in December.

Churchwarden Ken Tinsley said the memorial took months and months of work. The figure was made of wood and having being outside for many years had deteriorated badly. 'It virtually had to be rebuilt. It was a mammoth task.'

Villager Anthony Arratoon, who attends Buxted's other church, St Margaret's, gave his time free of charge to do the work.

'A couple of years ago the church council would have liked to have the figure renovated and repaired, but the costs asked by professional firms were horrendous and there was no way the church could afford it,' said Mr Tinsley.

'Then Anthony Arratoon kindly said he would have a go at it.'

He said it had been lovely to see the memorial back in its place but heartbreaking to find it deliberately damaged.

He said he did not know who damaged the figure but there had been problems with young people in the churchyard last summer. There had been evidence of 'mischief' but not damage.

The figure is now back with Mr Arratoon who is trying to repair it.