York Minster clergy expressed shock and outrage today after vandals defaced its historic walls with offensive graffiti.

Slogans such as "child abusers" and "perverts" were plastered on the south side of the cathedral in black paint.

The word "vanity" was also painted in large letters across the statue of Constantine The Great, who was York's Roman Emperor in AD 306.

Minster security staff tried to wash off the graffiti but some of it remained clearly visible to passing tourists.

The Dean of York, the Very Reverend Raymond Furnell, who is based at York Minster, condemned the vandalism as "disgraceful".

He told the Evening Press: "The south side of the Minster and Constantine's statue were defaced during the early hours of Sunday morning

"It leaves me very sad when this sort of thing happens - it's a totally mindless act.

"If someone is protesting about something surely there are better ways to go about it.

"It's very upsetting."

The Dean said Minster stone-workers would permanently remove the graffiti "as soon as possible".

A spokesman for Minster security said surveillance camera footage covering the cathedral's south side had been handed to York police.

The statue of Emperor Constantine was erected outside the south transept with the help of the York Civic Trust, in recognition of his laying the "religious foundations of western Christendom" following his conversion to the faith.

Darrell Buttery, acting chairman of the York Civic Trust, said: "I'm deeply saddened. We do all we can to improve the look of the city, which takes a considerable amount of time. It's disgusting that these vandals have spoiled all our hard work with the statue in a matter of minutes."

Tourists visiting the Minster expressed their disbelief at the vandalism.

Graham Benson, who was visiting York from Brisbane, Australia, with his wife, Judy, said: "It's absolutely disgusting - who would do something like that?

"Clearly someone has got an axe to grind against the Church but that is no excuse."

Jit Tej was visiting the cathedral from Kent.

He said: "It's a sad indictment of the world we live in today.

"York Minster is a wonderful historical building and people should respect it not deface it.

"The Church may have a bad reputation, but there are better ways to protest."

A spokesman for York police said the matter was under investigation.

Anyone with information should telephone 01904 631321.

Updated: 11:12 Monday, August 27, 2001