Church reopens after anti-social behaviour 'reset'

The churchyard at St John's in Glastonbury closed during May

A churchyard in a town centre has reopened after it was forced to close for a month because of anti-social behaviour.

St John's the Baptist's Church in the centre of Glastonbury, Somerset, stopped all church-related activities, other than Sunday services and funerals, during May for a "reset".

David Smith, churchwarden said it was a "horrible" decision to close but added: "The raised gravestones were being used as shop counters for open drug dealing - that obviously is unacceptable."

The decision split opinions in the town but Avon and Somerset Police said the closure was "challenging", but a "necessary" step to protect safety.

The church say they're working with Glastonbury Town Council, local businesses and the Police as the churchyard reopens.

Mr Smith continued: "I believe the closure was the reset we needed and we've had good feedback from the public as we reopened."

Local business owner and councillor Paul Manning said anti-social behaviour is a real problem in the town

Paul Manning is a town councillor and runs a business just off the High Street and said anti-social behaviour in the town is a "barrier" to tourists.

He said: "The businesses at the top end of the High Street suffer because of anti-social behaviour. We need to all work together to address this."

It comes after the BBC reported in January that some Glastonbury shop workers said more work needed to be done to crack down on crime and anti-social behaviour.

A police spokesperson previously told the BBC: "We have been working closely with representatives from the church and the local authority to combat anti-social behaviour in and around Glastonbury."

Dandelion Chalice (r) runs a business in Glastonbury and said the closure meant the churchyard was "much more peaceful"

Dandelion Chalice runs a business in Glastonbury and said it was a "huge shame" to close the churchyard.

He said: "I felt it was upsetting to shut a Christian place of worship.

"But I understand it as the churchyard was much more peaceful when it was closed.

"You can't have people fighting next to families having picnics."