Statue of the Virgin Mary in the Boston church burned

Boston police are investigating vandalism towards a statue of the Virgin Mary outside a Catholic church in the city.

Officers responded to St Peter's parish in the city's Dorchester neighborhood around 22:00 on Saturday, according to an email on the department's website.

Fire investigators at the scene told police that someone had set fire to plastic flowers, which were in the hands of the statue, causing the face and top of the statue to burn and ruin with burn marks.

No arrests have been announced. The police ask members of the public about vandalism to come forward.