THE brutal murder of a popular country vicar has prompted local clergy to speak out about the risks they face on a daily basis.

Father Paul Bennett was stabbed to death on the doorstep of his South Wales vicarage and police believe his killer may have gone to the church seeking money, possibly for drugs.

Members of the clergy in Dorset have told the Daily Echo they are regularly confronted at their homes or churches by people demanding money.

And they said many have drug or alcohol problems and can behave in an erratic or threatening manner.

The Rev Graham Wheeler of St Ambrose Church in Westbourne has been violently attacked three times.

His vicarage was fitted with CCTV cameras after he was wrestled to the ground by a man who forced him to hand over more than £100 in cash.

Mr Wheeler was knocked unconscious with a silver candlestick during a raid on his home and he has also been grabbed by the throat by a man demanding money.

The Rev Bryan Apps, a retired vicar, told how regular visitors to the All Saints vicarage in Southbourne asked for money and some became threatening.

"This is a common situation that the clergy are confronted with" he said.

"It can be intimidating, particularly if you have young children in the house."

He said he and his wife used to give tea and sandwiches to anyone who claimed they needed money for food. But he added: "We often found the sandwiches thrown in the garden - they wanted the money for something else."

Mr Apps said the clergy are advised to give advice and support to those in need and said: "Deserving cases can find help from the appropriate agencies."

Archdeacon of Bournemouth, the Venerable Adrian Harbidge, told of his sympathy for the family of Father Bennett.

And he said: "If something like this happens it makes everyone very wary of opening the door, which is obviously something the clergy should do on occasions."

And the Rev Andrew Bailey, of the Church of St Mary Magdalene in New Milton, added: "It is a terrible thing that has happened but in a sense we are vulnerable and available and we deal with anybody and everybody."

Father Bennett, a 59-year-old grandfather, was murdered in front of his wife at St Fagan's Church in Trecynon, near Aberdare on Wednesday.

Recent studies have revealed the clergy have one of the highest risk levels for facing violence at work.

More than half have suffered violence and more than one in 10 have been physically asaulted.