Vandals must apologise to church

The church was made famous in BBC comedy series Jam and Jerusalem

Charges have been dropped against three teenagers who daubed graffiti on an ancient parish church on Dartmoor.

Two girls, aged 14 and 15, and a 16-year-old boy were charged with causing criminal damage to the 750-year-old St Peter's Church in North Tawton, Devon.

Exeter Youth Court heard they admitted responsibility and had been given a final warning by police.

The court was told the teenagers had also been ordered to apologise in person to the congregation.

The youths and their parents had cleaned up the graffiti, the court heard.

'Daunting' task

The charges against them were withdrawn by prosecutor David Burgess.

Dave Brown, from Devon Youth Offending Team, said the youths now faced the "daunting" task of facing the vicar and congregation to say sorry for their actions which caused widespread upset in the Dartmoor town.

The youths, who cannot be named because of their age, did not appear in court.

Police can give final warnings to young people if they accept responsibility for a minor offence and it is the first time they have committed an offence.

They will go to court if they are arrested for a further offence within two years.

The church became well known in the BBC comedy series Jam and Jerusalem.