YOBS have covered a York religious building in graffiti.

The Friends Meeting House in Friargate - which is run by The Quakers - has been daubed in black and white "tags".

Warden Rosemary Stubbs said she had discovered the graffiti on the front door, a side window and all down the side of the building on Friday morning.

She said it had been recorded by City of York Council as non-offensive - meaning it will be cleaned up within five days - but she felt it was offensive because it was on a religious building.

Graffiti which is deemed to be "offensive to a lot of people" is cleaned up within two days.

Rosemary said: "It isn't rude words, but I still find it offensive because it's a religious building at the end of the day and if they will do it there, then they will do it anywhere.

"I think we will probably have to have a go at cleaning it up ourselves.

"We have our Quaker meeting on a Sunday morning and it's not very nice for people to turn up and see that sort of thing.

"I wonder what would have happened if it had been on the Minster?"

She said the graffiti hadn't been there when she had locked the building at 10.30pm on Thursday, but when she returned at 7.30am on Friday morning the side of the building was covered in "tags".

A City of York Council spokeswoman said: "If it's really offensive wording then we will make it a priority, but if it's not then we will just get to it as soon as we can.

"If it was going to offend a lot of people then it would need to be done straight away, but obviously it will still be removed as quickly as possible.

"If it is recorded as offensive then we will remove it within two days, but if it's not offensive we will remove it within five days.

"In this case the graffiti has been recorded as non-offensive so it will be removed within five days."

The graffiti has also been reported to North Yorkshire Police.