VANDALS have left nature reserve bosses in a flap by leaving a trail of religious graffiti in two new hides.

The evangelising vandals have targeted the hides at the Durham Wildlife Trust's Low Barns reserve, near Witton-le-Wear, County Durham, three times in the past few weeks.

They first struck during Christmas when staff were on holiday, and returned at the beginning of the month and again this week, leaving religious statements and Biblical quotations scrawled on the inside walls.

The attacks have unnerved visitors and the reserve's staff, who have no idea who the culprits are.

John Gorst, the trust's reserves officer, said: "It makes a change from the usual vulgar graffiti.

"That doesn't change the fact that it costs us time and money to clear up, and could offend some of the visitors."

The attacks have taken place over a busy period for the reserves team, which is responsible for the management of the site, and have had an impact on a planned work programme.

Mr Gorst said: "This time of year we are busy with tree-felling, scrub clearance and tree planting on many of our 25 nature reserves.

"Because the work we do is seasonally dependent and therefore time-critical, to have to take time out to clean up unnecessary graffiti has a damaging knock-on effect."

The hides are part of an award-winning project opened on a the site of a former sewage works last summer by trust president Dr David Bellamy.

They offer visitors a view of migrant and resident birds such as the kingfisher, grey herons, wildfowl and warblers.

Police are looking for the culprits, while the trust is taking its own measures to prevent further attacks.

Anyone with information is asked to call community police officer Tony Elliot, on 0845 60 60 365, or the Durham Wildflife Trust on 0191-584-3112.