VANDALS have smashed battlements on the tower of Whitby's 12th Century clifftop parish church.
It is the latest in a series of attacks on St Mary's, said churchwarden John Hemson.
"We believe the culprits climbed on to the roof, possibly to look for lead, and knocked the battlements off, sending them crashing to the ground," he said yesterday.
The battlements were put on the tower in 1818.
"They were worn, because they get the full blast of the weather from the North Sea. It is appalling vandalism," said Mr Hemson.
In recent months, gravestones in the ancient churchyard, where many old seadogs are buried, have been damaged, floodlights illuminating the church, smashed and youths have hurled eggs at visitors to the landmark church.
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