THE Archbishop of York told today how clergy in parts of the York diocese are battling against a wave of burglaries and assaults.

Dr David Hope said some vicars were even removing the vicarage signs from outside their homes to reduce the risk of being targeted.

One urban church, in the north-east of the city, had been burgled 28 times in the past two years, and this was having an impact on the numbers wanting to serve in some parishes.

"There's a distinct lack of applications. We are finding it very difficult to fill posts, particularly in the north and in some of the more difficult urban areas," he said.

"To some extent, I can understand that if a person has a young family, who would want deliberately to take their family into this situation?"

Clergy went through very considerable distress and trauma after being burgled, and counselling had been arranged to help some go back into their vicarages. Even at his own home, Bishopthorpe Palace, security had been tightened up, with visitors facing security doors on their arrival and CCTV cameras keeping watch.

A spokesman for Dr Hope said there had been security measures at the palace for some time, but these had been stepped up more recently, not only because of increased burglary risks but also because an increasing number of people were turning up without an appointment, demanding to see the Archbishop.

Updated: 10:56 Monday, March 10, 2003