'Shock' as place of worship sent threats and dog poo

Criminal damage at a place of worship has "drawn together" people in a Somerset town, a Jehovah's Witnesses spokesperson has said.

The Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in Mart Road, Minehead, had its letter box damaged by paint and was sent a threatening letter and dog faeces some time between Sunday and Tuesday, Avon and Somerset Police said.

A vehicle was also damaged with symbols associated with the far right overnight on Tuesday.

Brynmor Goodwin, south west spokesperson for the Jehovah's Witnesses, told the BBC earlier: "It came as a big shock. We're well known in the community and we carry out our religious work peacefully and it's never happened before."

Goodwin said the building was not just for Jehovah's Witnesses, but for "the whole community to come and learn about the Bible".

He said the hall was built 14 years ago, with much of the work carried out by volunteers.

Goodwin said: "Despite the recent unpleasantness, the hall remains a gift to the local community, and will be open for weekly meetings as usual.

"The congregants in Minehead have carried on as normal, we had a higher attendance at our meeting on Thursday night, so it hasn't set us back, it has drawn us together.

"We've been getting expressions of concern and support from our neighbours, which has been reassuring as well, because we value our place in the community so to know that they're concerned for us was really nice to hear."

Avon and Somerset Police said officers were carrying out uniformed patrols to reassure the community.

The incident is being investigated as religiously-aggravated criminal damage. No arrests have been made.

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