Congregations at Ripon Cathedral are being locked in during evening services in a bid to prevent young hooligans from barging in and disrupting services.

The decision to lock the church's main west door has been taken after a series of anti social vandals seemed determined to halt services and shout obscene abuse at the clergy, staff and congregation.

Since the main doors have been locked there have been no incidents inside the cathedral, although stained glass windows have still come under attack from stone-throwing youngsters outside.

Metal grilles now protect most of the windows following a spate of vandal attacks.

Meanwhile, additional staff are on duty during services to monitor little-used side doors.

Cathedral bursar Nigel Clay has blamed a hard core of vandals for the trouble which on one occasion saw 16 foul-mouthed youths abusing a female member of the cathedral staff during a service. On other occasions the youths have shouted obscene language and helped themselves to prayer candles around the building.