CLERGYWOMAN Beth Brown has been overwhelmed with the offers of help and gifts after children caused damage to a village church and took donations meant for Devizes Foodbank.

The Rev Brown, who is associate priest at St Mary The Virgin Church, Bishops Cannings, was left dismayed and disappointed when she realised boys aged about nine had been responsible for causing damage inside the building and taking plastic furniture from a kiddy's corner for a den in the churchyard.

They also took donations to the Foodbank to eat and smashed eggs along the path to the church.

But this week Ms Brown was delighted to receive donations of toys and food from Morrisons supermarket and also thanked Bishops Cannings Parish Council for a grant of £100 to improve the church CCTV.

She said: "I have been overwhelmed with how kind people have been. A lot of villagers gave donations for the Foodbank when they heard what had happened and there were lots of lovely messages of support.

"When I went into Morrisons to collect the donations I was expecting just a few things and thought there would be space in my trolley but there was a very large amount of food and toys."

Morrisons community champion Lucy Nicholas said: "When we heard about what had happened we wanted to do what we could to help. We were very pleased to be able to make these donations to church and the Foodbank."

The new toys will be used at a toddlers group run at the church and for the children's corner used by youngsters during Sunday morning service. The only item yet to be replaced is a first aid box that was taken and later abandoned outside.

Ms Brown said: "We got it back but it is no longer in a condition we can use. We are looking around to find a large first aid box at the cheapest price."

She is determined to be able to leave the church unlocked as people come from all over the country to see the impressive building and she does not want them to be disappointed.