In the latest of a series of attacks, the altar was smashed to pieces last week, possibly with a sledgehammer.

The trouble began when the 17th Century chapel - part of a private cemetery in Monks Kirby owned by the Denbighs' family estate in Newnham Paddox - was featured on national websites as a haunted building, attracting many thrill-seekers to the area late at night.

Now Lord Denbigh has had to take it upon himself to patrol the area in the early hours of the morning to protect his family's chapel.

Talking to the Advertiser, Lord Denbigh said: "It seems the attacks have ramped up a gear lately and it makes me angry.

"Over the last year, the chapel has been targeted many times. On one occasion, a bucket of pig's blood was thrown against the door and a pig's liver was left on the step.

"It maybe cult groups that are coming down and maybe recreating pagan sacrifices, but just recently the ante has been raised when it comes to vandalism.

"However, they have gone too far this time and smashed the altar."
Lord Denbigh, who has family members buried in the cemetery, said that groups of cars come down at weekends.

He then takes their registration numbers and warns them to move on - but they usually return.

Over the past few months the windows have been smashed, gravestones destroyed and lead has been taken from the roof.

"People come down because they think it's haunted, but it's not," said Lord Denbigh.

"I have contacted the websites to tell them to take information about the chapel off their sites to stop people coming late at night, but some of them have not."

The Denbigh family now fear that the chapel may soon fall into disrepair due to the vandalism.

However, in twist of fate, English Heritage is currently looking into giving the building a listed status, which could help protect it against further attacks.

Anyone with any information on the attacks can call Rugby Police on (01788) 541111, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.