Vandals have struck again at the graveyard adjoining the medieval Old Peter’s Church in Thurso.
A 19th Century headstone was overturned and smashed in the latest act of sacrilege to afflict the site in the old part of the town, overlooking the river.
While police seek to trace the culprits, efforts are being made to help deter further incursions.
The latest damage, believed to have occurred on June 5 or 6, saw a vertical headstone being knocked over and broken into a number of pieces.
Roger Saxon, who chairs Old St Peter’s Kirk Preservation Trust, said: “It would have taken a fair bit of force to do it as it is a big, heavy slab of stone.
“It’s been badly smashed but I suppose it is capable of being repaired.”
Mr Saxon said after the vandalism was reported, police visited the graveyard and carried out door-to-door inquiries but have yet to charge anyone with the offence.
The graveyard has had a number of similar incidents, the worst in April 2013 when five headstones were toppled and broken.
That prompted Highland Council, which owns the Grade A listed site, to lock the outer gate of the ancient, roofless kirk.
Mr Saxon said this measure had little deterrent effect.
He said: “When the gate is locked, it’s not difficult to get in by scaling the wall.
“The only people it stopped getting in were those going there for good purposes.”