GENEROSITY has poured in from all over the UK following the news that the iconic church at Mwnt near Cardigan had been vandalised twice in the space of a month.

The latest attack on the historic Eglwys y Grog or Church of the Holy Cross, took place some time between 18 and 21 December and saw windows smashed and criminal damage inside the church.

This is the second time the church has been attacked in the space of a month with windows also smashed on 2 December.

Images show that the windows to the church, which is thought to date back to the 13th or 14th Century, have been smashed with rocks and the church has been broken into and ransacked.

Damage has also been caused to the gated entrance to the isolated Grade I listed church.

Local county councillor Clive Davies has branded the attacks as ‘senseless’

He said: “Eglwys y Grog contained nothing of value, so this was a sensless act .

“The Crime Scene Investigators have started their work onsite I understand from correspondence with the local Police.

“Also ties into a spate of criminal activity across the area recently where evidence is also being gathered. “With the local police we’re exploring new ways of monitoring and alerting for such a remote location where there is no power.”

Cllr Davies set up a justgiving page to coordinate fundraising efforts and in the space of just three days, donations came in from all over the UK and further afield, amassing £24,000.

Cllr Davies said he was ‘humbled’ by the response.

He added: “Future security sadly is also something we will be discussing and again thank you for the numerous suggestions and support. This peaceful church which many use it for quiet contemplation , it needs to be open but kept safe.

Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed that they are investigating and a spokesperson said: “We received a report of a break in and criminal damage at Holy Cross, Mwnt, on Tuesday, 21 December.

“It could have happened sometime between the evening of Saturday, 18 December, and the morning of Tuesday, 21 December. “Among the damage was broken windows.”

For more information on the fundraising effort, visit https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/eglwysymwnt?utm_term=rzEbz3NBw