VANDALS have targeted one of the region’s great ancient monuments – leading to a joint warning from police and English Heritage.

The vandals took wood from the compound at Scarborough Castle - and then set it alight, blackening a section of the ancient walls.

The incident happened overnight on July 27 and 28 and police are now appealing for anyone with information to contact them.

English Heritage area manager Clea Warner said: “Scarborough Castle is an important historic site and this is a serious case of heritage crime.

“Heritage crime robs us of our shared history and causes damage to places of unique historical significance. It includes offences such as illegal metal detecting, theft of lead and historic stone as well as graffiti and vandalism to historic buildings.”

Chief Inspector Lindsay Stamp said: “It beggars belief that anyone would vandalise one of the county’s most historic buildings.”