Museum visitors damage 800-year-old coffin

A family trying to take a picture with their child inside of it caused extensive damage to an 800-year-old coffin at a British museum.  It happened on August 4th at Prittlewell Priory Museum in Essex.

Police say that a family lifted their child over a museum barrier and put the child into the coffin.  The coffin apparently fell from the stand and a chunk came off of the coffin.

The family took off without reporting the incident but were caught on security cameras.

The coffin was found at the priory in 1921 and is believed to be from the 13th century.

Museum officials are considering copmletely enclsing the coffin to prevent further damage.