'Rugby ball caused more damage than the Blitz'

A rugby ball did "more damage to the stained glass" of Hull Minster "than six years of the Blitz ever did", according to the historical building's heritage manager.

James Cameron claimed an eyewitness saw youths kick a rugby ball 26ft (8m) high, smashing the 600-year-old building's west window.

He said: "It's a really disappointing way to lose such an important part of the Minster and the city's history."

Cameron said he believed it would cost "tens of thousands of pounds" to repair the damage.

During World War Two, Hull was one of the most bombed cities in the country, but Hull Minster escaped any considerable damage.

Cameron said: "It was quite miraculous that the minster managed to survive any damage when the city around it was decimated so badly during the war."

"The window itself is from 1920," he added.

"But the design for most of the window is actually from 1862. So, even though we're talking about post-World War I execution, we're really talking about Victorian art here."

Cameron said "We came in on Monday morning and saw this massive hole in the window, the day after an eyewitness who lives just across the square from here got in touch with our vicar and said he had seen some young lads playing rugby out in Trinity Square and they had kicked the ball.

"Finding the means to pay for these medium to long-term restoration projects can be quite difficult.

"We're a donation-reliant church in the fourth most deprived city in the country."

Cameron encouraged people to be careful and more aware when playing near the windows.

"We ask that people take care around the Minster, and help to keep this time capsule of the city intact for years to come," he said.

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