Churchill statue is vandalised

LONDON, Jan 15 (Reuters) Vandals have poured red paint over the statue of wartime prime minister Sir Winston Churchill in London's Parliament Square.

The vandalism, at one of London's most popular tourist sites outside the House of Commons, was discovered Yesterday afternoon.

The paint was splattered over the stone plinth and pavement.

It is not clear who carried out the act, and no arrest has been made.There were no witnesses, a Metropolitan Police spokesman said.

The incident is being treated as criminal damage.

It is not the first time the statue has been vandalised. In 2000, protesters during an anti-capitalist demonstration placed a turf ''Mohican'' on its head.

Sir Winston was named the greatest Briton in a nationwide poll in 2002.

REUTERS LL RK1015