Police are investigating after a dry-stone wall near a church diocese office was partly demolished.

A ladder belonging to the Bradford diocese office, at Kadugli House, in Steeton, was also found left next to the wall, which separates the property and a cemetery in Elmsley Street.

Insp Sue Sanderson, of the Craven Neighbourhood Police Team, said youths were believed to be responsible.

She said: “A large section of the wall has been pushed down but we do not know who is responsible at this time. It is potentially youths.

“We will be conducting patrols of the area.”

Kadugli House is an administrative office for the Bradford diocese but it has not yet been confirmed if the wall belongs to it or the cemetery. Malcolm Halliday, diocesan secretary, said the vandalism was an “irritation”.

He said: “We don’t know who has done it — it is somebody up to no good and it is a nuisance, but these things happen. The timing is a bit strange because things like this usually happen when it is summer and people are looking for something to do, not when it is the middle of winter and freezing outside.”

Anyone with information should contact the neighbourhood police team on 01274 475301.