Vandals pull down cross

LOCAL church leaders reacted with sadness this week to the news that vandals had pulled down the heavy Cross placed annually on the Mount at Lewes on Good Friday. The attack was part of a series of recent acts of vandalism in the area. The wooden Cross was left in pieces at the bottom of the steep mound. Father Christopher Channer, chairman of Churches Together in Lewes, which organised the event, said: 'It is a very sad reflection on our times that sacred things can be desecrated in this way. 'Perhaps it is not so surprising in this day and age.' And Father Phillip Hamilton-Manon, who assisted at the open-air Good Friday service when the Cross was put up, said: 'It was a very sad thing to do, particularly at this time of year. 'We should pray for people who feel the need to do such things. We don't know what brings them to do it. Acts like this are often done in ignorance.' The nearby pitch-and-putt hut near the Priory Ruins has been burgled three times in the past fortnight. On the last occasion on Sunday it was thought that all the putters and balls had been stolen. In fact they had been retrieved by the groundsman who discovered the burglary. Pitch-and-putt will be opening for its new season in the near future. Also at the weekend vandals painted obscene graffiti on the Battle of Lewes memorial near the Priory Ruins. Said Cllr Rachel Powell, for owners Lewes Town Council: 'There is constant vandalism in this area at the moment. We will be looking at options for action with police and parks contractors.' She said the damage to the cross was shameful. Security at the shed would be tightened and the memorial would be cleaned. Procession of witness: Page 3.