AN elderly York couple were horrified when they turned up for an afternoon church mass to find a man and woman having sex in the doorway.

The pensioners, who said it was like a scene from "Sodom and Gomorrah", fled the city's leading Roman Catholic church, St Wilfrid's, shocked and shaken.

The church, which lies in the shadow of York Minster, in Duncombe Place, is currently closed to the public and services are temporarily being held at St Wilfrid's School, in Monkgate.

The Bishop of Middlesbrough, the Right Rev John Crowley, has now arranged for St Wilfrid's parish priest Canon Michael Ryan to comfort the couple at home after the distraught pensioners, who are too frightened to be named, wrote to him. "I was speechless," said the 74-year-old woman, who was unaware the church was closed.

"We saw about 20 or 30 young adults hanging around outside the church and thought it must be some sort of youth convention.

"It turned out they were loud and abusive and seemed as high as kites on drugs.

"We walked past them but to our horror we then walked in on a couple having sex in the church porch area.

"I couldn't believe it when they carried on as if nothing was wrong.

"We got out as fast as we could.

"It's a complete desecration - I was sickened and appalled."

Bishop Crowley said he will be writing to the couple.

His spokesman said: "The Bishop is very sad that the couple had to go through this deeply unpleasant experience.

"Work was in progress that day, and the builders had kept the front porch area open despite the church entrance being locked.

"Security is usually very good at the church, but we can't afford to pay for staff to keep an eye on things permanently.

"Unfortunately this incident is part of the age we live in."

Major Mike Wilks, a parishioner of St Wilfrid's for more than a decade, said: "It shows a complete lack of respect.

"The culprits should be pitied because they're in such a state."

Updated: 10:42 Monday, November 26, 2001