As well as daubing foot-high scrawls on a gate dedicated to fallen soldiers, they even gouged out the names of the heroes.

Wardens at All Saints' Church, in Fulbridge Road, Paston, were shocked when they discovered the tributes etched on the Lych gate had been defaced.

It was put up following the Second World War to commemorate all the local men who died in both world conflicts and forms the centrepiece of the community's Remembrance Day celebrations.

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The latest attack follows a spate of vandalism at the church last year – including £23,000 of lead being stolen from the roof and the smashing of its stained glass windows.

Although they were sickened by the crime, those who work at the church said they would not be bowed by the yobs.

The year-long repair work to get the windows replaced has just been completed and they said Smartwater was helping to deter thieves.

But the graffiti – which has now been cleaned up – still came as a blow.

Churchwarden Jan King said: "This is an ongoing problem, not only at our church, but at churches all over the country.

"The memorial gate was put up in memory of all the local men who died in the First and Second World Wars.

"On Remembrance sunday, every name is read out.

"We've had an awful lot of graffiti in the last few years.

"What is so sick and appalling is that they have started gouging out the names as well."

Verger Lance Bloom said: "The graffiti was blue and had the letters RH, which were about a foot high.

"When the lighter nights come, we get quite a lot of youths gathering round.

"We don't mind them sitting there so much, but it's the damage they do.

"We have a good relationship with police and we plan to be ready for them when they congregate in the summer time.

"They have pulled guttering down, left graffiti on the Lych gate, smashed windows, left litter and they even bang on the doors during services."

David Gray, author of No More Strangers, which commemorates the lives of soldiers in Peterborough who lost their lives in the First World War, described the culprits as "mindless".

He said: "I haven't heard about this happening anywhere else in the city. I don't think they think about what they are doing.

"A war memorial is an easy target and if it wasn't there, they would do it somewhere else.

"The soldiers' sacrifices are benefiting these people now.

"They haven't got a clue about what they are doing. If they were more educated about it, they would think twice."

Catherine Bennett, who along with husband George organises the Poppy Appeal every year, said she had seen the memorial stones in the city's garden of peace scratched with obscene words.

She said: "It does happen, unfortunately.

"In my day, we were brought up to show respect. These days, some youngsters don't seem to realise the value of what's gone on in the past."