CEMETERY bosses in Burnley have vowed to step-up security in a bid to prevent vandalism and theft.

The move comes after widowed pensioner, George Holt, 76, of Brownhill Road, called for a security review after his wife's flowers were stolen from her grave.

Police are already considering treating stonework with Smart Water, a security measure which allows officers to trace stolen items.

Simon Goff, parks services manager, said a number of initiatives were currently in place and other schemes would be looked at.

Mr Goff said: "A lot of people have access to the cemetery to visit the graves because it's a public facility.

"We aware of the problem and want to reassure the public that we are acting on what has been happening.

"We have got a vehicle registration system in place which monitors all vehicles coming into the grave yard. Through this system the police have apprehended one man for stealing stone and we are expecting that the police will take action.

"The cemetery is locked but not every single day because of a shortage of staff which is also being looked at."

He added: "Because it's such a large site it's difficult to monitor it 24-hours-a-day, seven days a week. We are aware of the sensitivity surrounding the issue and we do want people to feel that we are taking security seriously."

Mr Holt, whose wife Joan died last September after battling with cancer, said: "We are glad to hear that it is being taken seriously and hope that action will help prevent anybody else from having to go through the same upset as what we have had.

"I am going up again to the cemetery today to take some more flowers and pray that this time they will not be taken."