VANDALS have again struck at a historic city church after 20 floodlights worth £6,000 were smashed.

The ruins at the Eastern end of St John's Church, Little St John Street, are lit for residents and tourists to enjoy.

But the floodlights are continually vandalised, leaving city council staff scratching their heads over what to do.

Last week the tourism, conservation and engineering departments held a meeting to discuss the issue along with community safety wardens who patrol the area.

There have been problems inside the church after youths - described at the time as Goths - were accused of burning a bible and stripping the altar.

Police say drinking and anti-social activity at Grosvenor Park and Chester Amphitheatre has spilled over into the church and patrols in the area have been stepped up.

The Rev David Chesters, who has resisted calls to lock up the building, said: 'I just think it's very sad that people should do things like that, I really do. It's mindless vandalism.

'They are taking money away from the city. I think they must go out with the avowed intention of getting drunk and doing something stupid.

'It's not just Chester. I have lived in different parts of the country and it's the same there, even in villages.'

It is believed the latest vandalism was noticed because St John's ruins feature in the Chester Ghost Walk with participants asked to look up at the upright medieval oak coffin embedded in one of the walls featuring the inscription 'Dust to Dust'.

A guide reported the problem after realising the coffin could not be seen at night because the lights were broken.

City council spokeswoman, Kathryn McGiveron, said the city council was responsible for lighting because it leased land adjacent to the church.

The light casings are designed for a truck to drive over them, suggesting heavy rocks or a sledgehammer must have been used to cause the damage.

She said: 'We are looking at solutions to tackle the problem and considering an alternative lighting scheme. It is costing a lot to keep replacing the lights and we cannot continue doing that forever.'