YOUNG vandals have damaged gravestones and started fires in a church porch leading to fears they will burn it down.

Staff at St Mary’s Church, Thirsk, have been blighted by troublemakers who cause damage at 589-year-old church.

Over several months graves have been broken and dislodged and an old noticeboard damaged by the vandals.

They have also taken leaflets off the noticeboard to use as firelighters in the church porch and they have left smashed bottles strewn around.

Rev Richard Rowling, rector of the church on the edge of Thirsk town centre, said: "It’s annoying as much as anything.

We have liaisoned with the police who have tried to help us as best as they can.

"They have caused damage to a number of floodlight casings and they have also broken some of the lights.

"They have ripped notices off the noticeboard and used them to light fires in the porch which can be quite dangerous.

"I think it’s a sad state of affairs that people don’t have any respect for a beautiful building like St Marys and no consideration for other people’s feelings."

A church spokesman said the gravestones had also been damaged and there was no way they could have been knocked over accidentally.

The problem of damage has been brought up at Thirsk Town Council meetings by councillor Alan Morton who plays the church organ.

A police spokesman said: "This type of behaviour is inexcusable and will not be tolerated by the police and the local community.

"Damaging church property is a particularly abhorrent crime and we appeal to anyone who has any information to contact us on 0845-6060-247.