A Spanish bishop is considering closing sections of a 12-century cathedral because rowdy youngsters keep peeing against the walls, causing damage to the historic building.

Mario Vazquez Carballo, dean at Lugo Cathedral, also known as Saint Mary’s Cathedral, in the city of Lugo in the Spanish region of Galicia, said rowdy behaviour is causing serious damage to parts of the building, a Spanish Property of Cultural Interest, particularly at the north door.

He said the Bishopric is considering closing the cathedral’s north portico and even the temple on Praza Pio XII at night due to urine causing damage at the historic sites.

The dean made the statement after the police reported 17 youngsters for urinating in public places in the city centre over the weekend, many of them against the cathedral’s walls.

Over the last three weekends, around 60 people have been reported for urinating in the city centre with Vazquez calling it “a very serious problem”, adding that people “doing their business in the street” are “damaging heritage”.

The dean also said that it is “sad” that people have to be fined to become “well-behaved”.

Stating that urine is damaging parts of the cathedral, something he refers to as a “situation of certain gravity”, Vazquez said “the north portico of Lugo Cathedral, which is a work of art, is destroyed”.

He also believes that “surveillance cameras” in the area would help to deter “these acts of vandalism”.

The dean also complained about “very noisy concerts” in the city that “interrupt worship” and cause “the cathedral windows to shake”, something he believes shows a “lack of respect”.