DISGUSTED parishioners arrived at church to find obscene graffiti scrawled all over benches and tiles in their sensory garden.

The garden at St John’s Church has only been open to the public for two months and was part of a £1million revamp, designed to create a tranquil open space.

Yet vandals have trashed it already, using marker pens to write sexually explicit messages on three benches, part of the tiled floor and on a headstone.

The damage was done after 5pm on Saturday and was discovered when parishioners arrived at the church, at the top of Pier Hill, for the Sunday service at 9am.

Kay Ward, a church warden, said: “Some of the elderly ladies who come here were absolutely disgusted by it.

“The people who did it obviously have no pride in themselves or the community.

“Elderly people like to go there, sit down and enjoy the sensory garden, but they won’t go in there now.

“It is just mindless vandalism when we are trying to do something nice.

“We were horrified when we saw it.”

The garden was completed thanks in part to the Cory Environmental Trust and with the help from Salvation Army volunteers, at the Hadleigh training centre.

They spent months transforming the grounds of the church, which is behind the Royals shopping centre, with new seats and pergolas.

Mrs Ward, said: “The garden was put together by the Salvation Army and they worked so hard.

“Everyone was so pleased when it was finished and the volunteers were as pleased as punch with the result.

“They will be so upset when they hear what has happened.”

The rev Stephen Burdett is away on holiday at the moment and unavailable for comment.

Julia Pack, spokeswoman for Essex Police, said: “This graffiti, some of which was of an obscene nature, is just mindless vandalism and particularly disrepectful given the areas which have been targeted.

“The church is right near to an alleyway used by people going to Talk nightclub, so we hope someone heard something which may be able to help us with our enquiries.”

Anyone with information can call investigating officers at Southend police station on 0300 3334444.