Historic stepping stones in a Welsh village have been defaced with names carved deep into the ancient slabs, leaving the community outraged.
Three of the 41 medieval stones that span the Ewenny River in the Vale of Glamorgan now bear the names Patrick, Lily and Liana etched into their surfaces.
The stones, which sit near the 12th-century Ogmore Castle, hold protected status as monuments "of national importance".
The vandalism has shocked residents who say the damage appears to have been carefully planned rather than spontaneous.
Authorities are treating the incident as a heritage crime, with South Wales Police working alongside Cadw, Wales' historic environment service.
The Heritage Body reports that criminal damage to protected buildings has increased significantly, with this year potentially recording the highest number of vandalism incidents at ancient Welsh sites.
Heritage crimes remain largely unreported despite their growing frequency, according to Cadw officials.
The organisation urges witnesses to report any suspicious activity at historic locations.
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Historic stepping stones in a Welsh village have been defaced with names carved deep into the ancient slabs
|Damaging or destroying scheduled monuments constitutes a criminal offence, as does using metal detectors at protected sites without proper authorisation.
Local resident Erica Staple described the vandalism as "mindless and unacceptable", drawing parallels with the destruction of Northumberland's famous Sycamore Gap tree.
She told the BBC: "This is an absolutely beautiful place.
"The whole village is upset by it. They've been there for hundreds of years and they've been defaced."
The stones, which sit near the 12th-century Ogmore Castle, hold protected status as monuments 'of national importance'
|When her daughter enquired about restoration possibilities, Ms Staple explained that "there's nothing we can really do".
She expressed worry that the three carved names might encourage others to commit similar acts of vandalism.
"We've got to treasure what we've got," she said, noting that despite the names visible on the stones, the community had "no idea" who was responsible.
The stepping stones date back to medieval times, though they underwent modifications in later periods, according to their official monument listing.
Authorities are treating the incident as a heritage crime
|Heritage experts recognise the crossing's national significance due to its potential for revealing insights into historical transport networks.
The monument remains remarkably intact and represents an uncommon example of such infrastructure, maintaining substantial archaeological value.
Experts believe associated archaeological features and deposits likely exist at the site.
The stones' importance increases due to their location beside Ogmore Castle, creating a connected heritage landscape.
Village residents have taken to social media calling for those responsible to surrender themselves to authorities.