THE Hereford County Hospital multi-faith chapel will remain open at all hours despite suffering a shocking attack at the hands of vandals.

Obscene messages were scrawled in the condolence book and Muslim prayer mats were stolen from the quiet room inside the chapel on Friday, February 28.

However, chief executive of the Hereford Hospitals Trust Jeremy Millar was quick to dispel fears that the chapel would be closed to prevent this from happening again.

"The chapel is used enormously by patients and relatives and to close it because of this would be very sad," he said.

He also dismissed reports that the attack was racially motivated.

"I can confirm that the obscene comments in the prayer book did not contain any racial element and the affected pages were quickly removed by the hospital chaplain, the Rev. Phillip Roberts," he added.

Hereford MP Paul Keetch was shocked and appalled when he heard of the attack.

"The chapel and the prayer room should be places of reflection and places of peace, it is disgusting to think that this should be violated. I hope this is just an isolated incident, and there is nothing more to it than someone who has just got a little out of hand," he said.

"But incidents like this should be treated seriously and if deliberate damage has been inflicted on the chapel or the prayer room then action should be taken," he added.