One of North Yorkshire’s most famous monuments has been vandalised with a mysterious inscription.

Beggar’s Bridge in the North York Moors National Park has been ruined with a ‘staggering act of vandalism’.

The 17th century bridge is visited by visitors from all over the country but now it has been defiled by an angle grinder.

It is now scarred with a mysterious message: “LAZNI IINI ANI

“CA IM”

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The Northern Echo: Beggar's Bridge has been vandalised with a mysterious message

Annabel Longfield-Reeve, the Heritage and Conservation Officer at the North York Moors National Park Authority described the vandalism as a ‘heritage crime’.

She said: “Beggar’s Bridge is an irreplaceable historic asset that we are keen to preserve for future generations.

“We’re shocked that someone or a group of people would commit such a crude act of heritage crime and we urge anyone with information that might be helpful to contact the police.”

Conservation officers will now assess the damage to see if it can be removed or repaired without causing structural damage.

She said: “Although built in 1619, the bridge incorporates stonework from an earlier 14th century crossing, so you can’t just replace the stone like for like.

“You would be losing that age, the history and some of the story of the bridge over time.

“Although particularly destructive, this also isn’t an unusual occurrence. Crime against our heritage assets is on the increase.

“It is a staggering act of vandalism.

The Northern Echo: A close up of the vandalism

“Many of our monuments are in rural locations and cannot be regularly monitored, so we often rely on local communities to help keep an eye on them.

“Sadly though, as is in this case, it isn’t always enough.”

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Roger Norris, councillor for Glaisdale Parish, said: “Beggar’s Bridge is a national treasure that has survived for such a long time.

“To think that someone would carry a grinder there for the purpose of damaging it in this way is outrageous. This isn’t children scratching stones, this is criminal vandalism.”

Anyone with information regarding the damage should contact police on 101. The crime reference number is NYP-27072023-0395.