Police are today investigating an attack on an Orange Hall that plays a central role in the Order's July 12 parades in Belfast.

Paint was thrown at the recently renovated Orange Hall at Clifton Street near the city centre.

In a separate incident, sectarian slogans were daubed on an Orange Hall in Rasharkin, Co Antrim.

A spokesman for the Order said: "The Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland has condemned vandalism attacks on two Orange Halls over the weekend.

"Sectarian slogans were daubed on the Orange Hall in the centre of Rasharkin.

"This is the fourth time this year that the hall has been the target for attack.

"Paint was also thrown at the front of Belfast Orange Hall, at Carlisle Circus.

"Extensive work was recently carried out to enhance the appearance of the hall, which is the location for the start of the Belfast Twelfth Parade."

The attack on the Orange Hall at Clifton Street was reported to police on Friday at 10.30pm and they have appealed for information on the incident.

Ballymoney Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) councillor Audrey Patterson condemned the Rasharkin attack.

"These cowardly attacks have been rightly viewed by the minority community of the village as an assault upon the entire Protestant population," he said.

"Orange Halls are at the very heart of the community, not just during the marching season but all year round.

"Attacks such as these display the blatant sectarianism of republicans and their hatred for all things associated with loyalism or Protestantism."

The councillor appealed for anyone with information to contact police.

Sinn Fein representatives said all attacks on Orange halls must stop.

The party's North Belfast MLA Caral Ni Chuilin hit out at the attack on Clifton Street Orange Hall.

"This attack has no justification behind it other than blatant sectarianism.

"Let me make it clear- sectarianism has no place in north Belfast," she said.

"The Orange hall has just had restoration work on the front carried out as part of the arterial route scheme which is designed to improve the appearance of our neighbourhoods.

"The removal of security shutters and cages on the building was a move in the right direction.

"Given the work that was done, to have paint spattered over the front of the building for purely sectarian reasons is completely unacceptable and those behind the attack have no right to do this."

Belfast City Council is upgrading the building as part of a £30,000 scheme.

Councillor William Humphrey, Chairman of the council's Development Committee, added his condemnation of the attack.

"The restoration of the Belfast Orange Hall - a building of great historical and architectural merit - is a key element of our 'Renewing The Routes' programme in this area," he said.

"Obviously, we are now going to have to make good the damage sustained in this attack: this will have implications not only for this particular project, but it will have a knock-on effect for other projects in the area, as we will have to find the money from other budgets.

"The renovation of shop fronts further along the Crumlin Road, together with a number of environmental improvement schemes, have been warmly welcomed by the local community and it is a real shame that this mindless attack by a small minority, who do not represent that community, has damaged not only the Hall but also potentially these other projects, which have shown this part of Belfast in such a positive light."

Sinn Fein North Antrim representative Daithi McKay, meanwhile, said sectarian incidents must end in Rasharkin.

"Rasharkin has seen a series of sectarian incidents over the past months with both communities being affected. This is the fourth attack on Rasharkin Orange Hall this year," he said.

"Let me be clear these sectarian attacks serve nobody's interest and people want them to end. They do nothing but break down community relations in the area.

"Any attacks of this nature need to be stopped immediately and those behind the attack need to realise there is no support whatsoever from the vast majority of both sections of our communities."