‘Mindless’ youths have sparked outrage after smashing and graffitiing an ‘iconic’ Yorkshire rock landmark which began forming 100 million years before the first dinosaurs walked the Earth.
Brimham Rocks, sculpted by 320 million years of ice, wind, and the movement of continents, are a popular tourist attraction visited by thousands every year having taken on shapes that resemble animals including a gorilla, eagle and ‘dancing bear’.
But one of the stones was toppled from its perch in an act of ‘mindless destruction’, damaging the crag face as well as the rock itself.
Five youths were spotted pushing the rock off the crag at the National Trust owned tourist spot at Summerbridge, North Yorkshire, where names were crudely scratched into the surface.
The rocks – also known as Millstone Grit – were formed after being eroded by water, glaciation and wind.
The stone sits in ruins beneath what was once its balancing point before youths disturbed the site
The rock was toppled from the circled spot to the ground below, leaving the site damaged as youths also carved their names into the surface
Police have warned that not only have the youths damaged an important landmark, but they have also created a dangerous site for visitors, who descend on the site in their thousands each year
WHAT ARE BRIMHAM ROCKS?
Brimham rocks is an area of ancient rock formations which were formed over millions of years.
Initially, around 320 million years ago, the continental arrangement was very different, with water from Scotland and Scandinavia flooding through the gorge.
These rivers became glaciers when ice ages occurred.
As these glaciers melted, the gushing water flowed over the rocks, moulding and moving them.
Brimham rocks is an area of ancient rock formations which were formed over millions of years
The last ice age with significant glaciation occurred at the end of the Devensian period, around 73,000 BC to 10,000 BC.
As this, the last of the giant ice ages, ended, the subsequent rivers of water created the ripples and waves on the rocks, producing the sculpted forms we see today.
Like with several other ancient rock formations (Ayers rock and the Grand Canyon etc) the wind erosion over thousands of years further etched the surface of the rocks into unique swirls and shapes.
It also smoothed over the huge boulders.
Many of the boulders have been given affectionate nicknames, such as The Sphinx, The Watchdog and The Camel.
The vandalism sparked outrage across social media with users voicing anger over the mindless act
Five young people were spotted pushing the rock off its balancing point and names were found scratched into the crag
Before the stone was toppled, it had sat apparently undisturbed by human activity for millions of years
The rocks – also known as Millstone Grit – were formed after being eroded by water, glaciation and wind
The names were found scratched into the surface of the crag close to where the balancing stone once stood
The National Trust has branded the vandalism ‘completely pointless and needless’ after names were scratched into the crag
Many of the formations have been named for visitors to spot including the Sphinx, the Watchdog, the Camel, the Turtle and the Dancing Bear.
The vandalism sparked outrage across social media, with users voicing their anger at the damage.
David Hartley wrote: ‘This is ridiculous, Brimham Rocks is a wonderful place, the roacks that form the landscape there bring tourists from far and wide to view them.
‘How these mindless vandals can actually do this is beyond me.’
Emily Ogden commented: ‘#Brimhamrocks Anyone know the vandal youths who did this? Surely someone does!’
Helen Clarke, from the National Trust, said: ‘It might have been fun for some people. Actually, it is just completely pointless and needless.’
This picture shows the rock formation balancing on top of a larger structure at Brimham Rocks before hooligans destroyed it
After: The spot on Brimham rocks where a balancing stone has stood for 320 million years before it was pushed from its perch by a group of louts
Rubble sits at the site after the youths were seen toppling one of the sites from the crag face in Yorkshire
The crag was scuffed as five youths toppled the stone from its perch at the popular tourist attraction in the north of England
North Yorkshire Police said: ‘At around 8.45pm on Friday, 1 June a group of five young people were seen pushing a rock at the top of one of the crags.
‘This resulted in the rock falling from the crag causing damage to the crag face. The damage this has caused is irreplaceable and it is now in a potentially dangerous condition.
Rubble gathered at the bottom of the site after five youths toppled the rock from its balancing point on the York Moors
‘The incident has not only caused considerable damage to both the rock and the crag face, but those responsible also put themselves in danger and have created a potential hazard for other visitors to Brimham Rocks.
‘If you have any information about the identity of those responsible please contact officers on 101, choosing option 2 and quote reference 12180097959. Alternatively email bill.hickson@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk.’