IRREPLACEABLE sculptures have been destroyed in an arson attack on a moorland chapel built as a memorial to aspiring artists killed in the Second World War.

Investigations are ongoing, but four youths were seen running away as the blaze took hold in the annexe attached to the Scotch Corner Chapel above the village of Oldstead near Sutton Bank on the North York Moors.

Wooden sculptures stored in the building were destroyed in the fire last weekend.

The chapel was built by sculptor John Bunting in the mid 1950s as a labour of love and memorial to pupils at Ampleforth College, where he studied and later taught.

Mr Bunting’s son, Bernard, drove up from London to assess the damage.

He said: “Why would anyone carry out such a meaningless and mindless attack?

“We are thankful that the chapel itself is undamaged, but very sad at the loss of some of his works in wood that were stored in the building.”

Fire crews managed to confine the fire to the annexe but could not save several of the statues.

Mr Bunting had built the chapel out of the ruins of an old farmstead on the site, carving angels to decorate the front.

Inside the chapel he lay a life-size effigy of a soldier in paratrooper’s helmet and commando boots.

It was devoted to former Ampleforth pupils Hugh Dormer, Michael Allmand and Michael Fenwick, who all died as young soldiers in the Second World War. All three had had artistic ambitions as poets and writers.

A fourth name was added when former pupil Robert Nairac was killed while serving in Armagh in 1977.

The site, which does not have a road to it, has become a popular spot for walkers who stop to admire the special building which has a public footpath running close by.

Officers are requesting the public’s assistance to help identify those responsible for the fire which was repoirted at about 9pm on Sunday, June 13.

In particular, police are investigating two vehicles seen by witnesses in the area around the time of the incident: a dark 4×4 vehicle with one female driver, and a small, dark-coloured car with three people in it.

PC Mark Atkinson, of North Yorkshire Police’s Rural Task Force, said: “John Bunting’s War Memorial Chapel is an important and meaningful part of North Yorkshire’s heritage.

"We’re treating this incident extremely seriously, and I’d urge anyone with information about it, or who knows who is responsible, to come forward to the police.

“If you live near a historically-important site, please be vigilant, and report any suspicious activity to the police straight away.

"We all need to work together to help protect our area’s rich heritage.”

Anyone with information that could assist the investigation should contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for PC Jeremy Walmsley.

You can also email jeremy.walmsley@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk