A Grade-II listed church in Yorkshire - which once featured in an ITV drama - has been vandalised. The instigators left behind an 'apology' note, bearing a fake number. 

Although it's no longer operating as a worship space, St Mary's Church in Lead remains a consecrated building, lying close to a War of the Roses burial ground. 

Affectionately known as The Ramblers Church after it was saved by a group of walkers in the 1930s, the chapel is cared for by the Churches Conservation Trust. 

Volunteers arrived at the chapel on Saturday, May 7, to find the 18-ft building left in devastation.

Posting to Facebook, the group said: "A sickening sight this morning...litter, smashed vases, glass everywhere, and worst of all, the cross broken too. To add insult to injury, a note of apology with a fake phone number. There's nothing to be done, everything is cleared and mended but I wanted to share what we have to deal with sometimes."

The visitors book was largely destroyed, littered with offensive messages.

The group left behind wristbands from an event they had previously attended. 

Ramblers Church had previously appeared in ITV's Dark Angel, which tells the story of a Victorian serial killer by the name of Mary Ann Cotton.