A HISTORICAL building that has stood in Brighton for almost 200 years has been vandalised with spray paint.

The Pepper Pot, which stands in Queens Park, has been defaced by vandals overnight.

Symbols and words drawn in red spray paint can be seen on the building, which is Grade II listed.

Pictures taken from the park this morning show the words "peace" and "turn an obstacle obsolete" sprayed above the base of the structure, alongside the word "sorry".

A passerby said: "What a mess again.

"Time Brighton and Hove City Council started dealing with this kind of activity.

The Argus: The graffiti was pictured on the Pepper Pot The graffiti was pictured on the Pepper Pot

"It makes me sad that the council are doing nothing to deter the criminality.

"We are slowly losing what little bit of historical value the town has, without mindless vandalism."

Built in 1830 by architect Charles Barry, in the grounds of a villa built for the owner of Queen's Park, it survived the villa's demolition and is now one of its only surviving remnants.

Standing 18 meters tall on an octagonal base, the exterior of the Pepper Pot was restored by the council in May 2011.