Vandalism in Houghton Regis Churchyard

In the afternoon of Sunday 30 June we were alerted by a concerned member of the public about some damage done in the churchyard of All Saints'. Father Diego and a churchwarden attended the scene to discover that the stonework covering the entrance to the old boiler room had been partly removed and broken. 

This silly act of vandalism has made the area potentially unsafe for anyone visiting the churchyard as the stairwell to the boiler room is now partially exposed.
This could also be a costly damage to repair. Because of building restrictions on our Grade I listed building, the stones used in 2019 to seal the stairwell were made of Totternhoe cluch, the same material used in the construction and restorations of the parish church since the Middle Ages. Although this material is quarried locally, it needs to be cured for a few months before being cut and set in place by qualified stonemasons. 

The incident was reported to Bedfordshire police. The Crime reference number is 40/361/35/24. Anyone with further information is welcome to contact the police via the non-emergency service 101.