Drugs graffiti left on wall of medieval abbey

A hunt for vandals is under way after a Unesco World Heritage Site was despoiled by graffiti.

Fountains Abbey, near Ripon, was targeted sometime between 18:00 GMT on Friday and 09:00 GMT on Sunday, according to North Yorkshire Police.

Oil-based white paint was used to write "don't steal drugs" on the Grade I-listed building's medieval plasterwork and St Mary's Church, which is likely to cause "considerable" damage.

Sgt Danny Copperwheat said the force would "work tirelessly" to bring those responsible to justice.

He added: "This is an appalling act of vandalism on a world-renowned heritage site.

"North Yorkshire Police will not tolerate these types of acts."

He encouraged anyone who had information on those responsible to come forward.

Fountains Abbey is one of two Unesco World Heritage Sites in Yorkshire, the other being Saltaire near Bradford.

The monastic ruins are the largest in the country and date back to 1132, when 32 monks left St Mary's Abbey in York to set up a new community.

The abbey was dissolved in 1539 by King Henry VIII and the Crown sold the estate to merchant Sir Richard Gresham before it eventually passed to the National Trust.

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