A man who was arrested in connection with two incidents of criminal damage – one at St Edmundsbury Cathedral just before a service was due to take place - has been bailed.

The offender entered the cathedral on Angel Hill around 3pm on Sunday and damaged a wooden gate, two silver candle holders and an embroidered silk table cloth.

On the same afternoon, he is also believed to have taken items from St George’s Church in Bradfield St George and piled them up, before he was disturbed by someone entering the building.

A 36-year-old man from Norwich was arrested in Essex by police officers on suspicion of criminal damage. He was questioned at Bury St Edmunds Police Investigation Centre and is now bailed to return to police on July 23.

It is the second time in less than two months that St Edmundsbury Cathedral has been struck by vandals.

At the end of April, the window on the south side of the knave was broken when vandals threw a traffic cone at it, leaving a six inch hole.

A specialist stained glass company had to be called in to assess the damage, which will cost up to £5,000 to put right.

Of the latest incident, the cathedral’s PR manager Sarah Friswell said: “This incident happened in the middle of a busy Sunday at the cathedral just before a service was about to begin.

“As well as the damage caused it was upsetting for all involved, including the many visitors in the cathedral at the time.”