CHILDREN are believed to have been behind a break-in at a church in Darwen.

The United Reformed Church, Chapels, Darwen, was broken into in broad daylight, but the would-be thieves left empty-handed.

Elder at the church Mike Adamson, said the intruders had broken the window to get in and he believed one of the intruders might have been a child, as the hole they entered though was very small.

The other intruder was then let in through the door.

Mr Adamson said: "They didn't do a lot of damage, but they did damage a portable organ while trying to force its lock. Bits of things were removed and scattered about."

Minister at the church Tamas Sugar, said: "Fortunately, there wasn't anything valuable to take."

Churches in Darwen have had a history of being vandalised and broken into. In August this year church officials at St James Church, in Winterton Road, were forced to flood light the church with a brightly lit cross to try to deter vandals.

This was after a succession of events over the spring and summer months. In one of the incidents, the vandals set a bible on fire and splashed ink on the walls.

Victorian gravestones and stone pillars were also smashed with a hammer and windows were repeatedly broken.

The United Reformed Church is normally locked during the day and the minister said they were not planning to have any extra security measures put in place at the moment.

He added that there was nothing of value to steal.

Police are investigating.