INSURANCE experts claim more than 30 churches in and around Bolton could be vandalised in the coming year.

The grim forecast follows a 12-month long spate of Crime, costing thousands of pounds, which has affected churches, from Great Lever to Adlington.

Valuable stained glass windows have been smashed and marble headstones in graveyards defaced in a series of attacks.

Now police chiefs are even seeking some religious input in a bid to bolster a Bolton crime beating group which will highlight the community's crime worries. The invitation for a Bolton cleric to join what will be a Crime and Disorder panel comes as the town's churchgoers contend with the vandals.

And yesterday Brian King, of Ecclestiastical Insurance Group, responsible for insuring a number of Anglican churches in Bolton, forecasted a bleak year ahead.

Mr King claims one in three churches will suffer at the hands of criminals in the year - and Bolton will not buck the trend. A spokesman for the Diocesee of Manchester yesterday labelled Mr King's claims as "insurance scaremongering." He added: "The Diocese of Manchester maintains a ministry to local communities in some very difficult inner city areas where crime figures can be higher than normal.

"In Bolton, however, there doesn't seem to be any evidence of any sudden increase in crime against churches."

But leading church figures in the town say they have been "devastated" by the crimewave, which has mirrored a national trend.

David Leeming, administrator of Churches Together in Bolton, confirmed that a letter requesting a nominee for the anti-crime panel had been sent to the group by Bolton police.

He added: "Obviously all churchgoing people in the town are concerned about this vandalism. It's a sorrowful situation. It's devastating really.

"We plan to discuss the police's request for a nominee for their Crime and Disorder panel at our next meeting."

In recent years special seminars have shown how security can be stepped up in and around Bolton's churches, but the attacks continue.

Sgt Bill Crittenden, of Bolton's crime management unit, said: "We have certainly had our fair share of damaged windows. Fortunately many churches keep their valuable possessions in banks now and only leave less valuable copies in the building.

"It's tragic that these stained glass windows are smashed. Many of these are worth a lot of money."

The Archdeacon of Bolton, the Venerable Lorys Davies, stressed that many churches had tightened security in recent years, adding: "We do encourage churches to remain vigilant and to review their security arrangements regularly."

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