Vale Castle is the third Guernsey landmark to be attacked

An attack on Vale Castle earlier this week is the third on an island landmark in a short period of time.

The vandalism follows similar attacks on the Vale Church and the Millennium Stone and police are investigating whether the incidents are linked.

The apparent increase in destructive behaviour is causing concern for those responsible for the island's heritage sites.

Historic sites manager for Guernsey heritage, Sandy Hamilton, said the incident at Vale Castle was not as serious as it might have been.

The graffiti was sprayed on a rock just outside the castle walls, rather than on the walls themselves.

The graffiti appears to be inspired by Lewis Carroll's poem

She said that, while graffiti was unusual, it was serious as, even though it could be largely removed it always left a scar.

The island's historic sites had been inspected regularly by caretaking staff and the police had been contacted when incidents had been discovered.

But Mrs Hamilton said the sites had to be made available to the public, and it was simply not possible to make them vandal proof.

In the latest attack at Vale Castle, the message "Don't step on the momeraths" was sprayed on a boulder - possibly a reference to Lewis Carroll's poem Jabberwocky.

In another attack this month, at Vale Church, the words "This used to be God's house - but he moved" were sprayed in black paint on the church door, one of the walls and a window.