Gravestones vandalised and destroyed at cemetery

Police are investigating after 22 gravestones were vandalised at a cemetery in Warwickshire.

Headstones were toppled and smashed on Saturday evening at Leamington Spa Cemetery, leaving some destroyed or beyond repair.

Damage has been put at £4,000 and visitors are being urged to report anything suspicious before the perpetrators struck sometime before the site closed at 20:00 BST.

"We are shocked and saddened to see such mindless vandalism," said Warwick District councillor Will Roberts.

He said staff were attempting to preserve and make safe the damaged gravestones.

The council said a number of older headstones were toppled and smashed, leaving some beyond repair

"Sadly, several have been destroyed beyond repair, which we know will be upsetting for visitors to the cemetery to see," he said.

Some of those targeted are believed to date back to the Victorian era.

"This is not just about the physical damage, but also the history and heritage of the families in our community which cannot be replaced," Mr Roberts added.

The graves were damaged on Saturday 6 July

Warwickshire Police confirmed 22 historic gravestones had been damaged at some point between 08:00 and 20:00 BST last Saturday.

Officers added the memorials targeted were near the Windmill pedestrian gate and "particularly old".

Sgt Trent McMurray described it as a "particularly callous and cruel act of criminal damage".

"Those responsible would obviously be distraught if someone damaged the headstone of one of their loved ones - but they believe it's acceptable to do that to others," he added.

"We are absolutely not going to tolerate this disgusting behaviour."

The damaged gravestones are believed to be at least a century old

Police and council wardens have been patrolling the Brunswick Street site to reassure residents and put up signs to indicate the damage.

Mr Roberts thanked members of the public who had been in touch so far and encouraged others with information to contact police or the council.