VANDALS who attacked a cemetery toilet block then uprooted shrubs have been condemned as 'sick' by councillors.

Ribble Valley Council faces a bill of hundred of pounds after vandals defaced rendering at the toilet block in Clitheroe Cemetery.

Builders were mid-way through improvement works to the toilet block, which had to be restarted when the discovery was made.

Coun Mary Robinson, a Clitheroe councillor, said shrubs had also been pulled up. She said: "Clitheroe is suffering quite badly from vandalism but to attack a cemetery is sick.

"It will be just a small minority who are causing this damage but there is quite a lot of it. Their parents need to get a grip before the police do."

Ribble Valley Borough Council senior surveyor Rod Pearce said: "We were in the process of revamping the toilets and have had to start again.

"We are calling on parents to keep an eye on their youngsters, as the vandals attacked at night and could have hurt themselves."

Council leader Chris Holtom said: "This sort of behaviour is reprehensible, especially when you consider how sensitive a place the graveyard is."

"We will offer the police our full support in finding who is responsible."