CCTV has been installed at Peel Cathedral as it has become the repeated target of vandals.

Security cameras have recently been installed inside the cathedral but church leaders are considering putting them in the grounds too.

Police say Peel Cathedral and its grounds are now being frequently vandalised.

Very Revd Nigel Godfrey, Dean of Cathedral Isle of Man, said that by and large the vandalism was petty.

He said the grounds tend to suffer at weekends with graffiti on walls and on sculptures, Victorian cast-iron benches broken, planters turned upside down and broken and young trees snapped.

’It can be a bit dispiriting when we are trying to create a new visitor destination for the island and we are spending time on repairs rather than moving forward,’ he said.

’The cost is largely in terms of staff time, though broken benches can be a lot more expensive to put right.’

He added: ’The general public has access to the cathedral as it is open daily from 9am to 6pm and is not always staffed.

’People are welcome to help themselves to refreshments and use the internet. We also have an informal food bank where people can just help themselves to what they need. Unfortunately, one or two abuse this hospitality so refectory tables have been purposely gouged with keys, sugar thrown around, biscuits scattered in the cathedral and the grounds.

’Since we have added some outside lighting to enable people to walk through the grounds safely at night. This has made things worse.

’We have recently had to install CCTV in the cathedral and are now investigating putting it in the grounds.’

A multimillion-pound campaign to develop the cathedral and its grounds has included new gardens and a sculpture representing Archibald Knox and Josef Pilates. The Dean said the features had been designed with the robustness you would expect to find in a public park open day and night.

’We have a policy of putting things back in place and repaired as soon as possible, so it doesn’t defeat us,’ he said.

CCTV cameras have also had to be installed at the Philip Christian Centre opposite the cathedral after that too was targeted by vandals. Windows were smashed at the community centre the day before the security cameras were due to be fitted.