Vandals who targeted the Holy Trinity Church in Longlevens, Gloucester, unwittingly broadcast their actions live when they accidentally activated the church’s livestream.

The incident, involving three children, took place over two days last week, resulting in significant damage to the church.

The trio, who set fire to palm crosses and defaced orders of service, were caught in the act thanks to the live broadcast. The church, which has since closed temporarily, will reopen for services soon, according to the BBC.

Rev Rachel Forrest told the outlet: "They were just messing about, but behaviour like that can be really dangerous.

"It's not just the damage, they showed a complete lack of respect and treated it like a joke."

The damage included tyre marks on the wooden floor, caused by a wheelchair being pushed recklessly down the church aisle.

The livestream footage showed the children’s actions in real-time, allowing the church and authorities to quickly identify what had occurred.

Rev Forrest expressed her concern over the incident, particularly the fire risk. She said: "The really serious issue is that people have been setting fire to things like paper and palm crosses. In a building that's mostly wood, with lots of curtains and other flammable items, it's extremely worrying."

Despite the distressing nature of the vandalism, Ms Forrest was heartened by the community’s response. "Loads of people have been popping in and asking if we're alright or if we need any help. A carpenter even offered to mend anything that was damaged. It's been lovely to see how the community has come together and how appalled they are by what happened."

The Gloucestershire Police are investigating the incidents, which occurred between 14:00 and 17:00 on Thursday 15th August and continued on Saturday. They have urged anyone with information to come forward.