VISITORS to Radcliffe cemetery were shocked on Tuesday to discover dozens of headstones flattened.

One woman even rang the police to compain about "vandalism" to more than 70 graves.

In fact, the headstones had been laid flat after an urgent council review of cemeteries throughout the borough.

The move -- announced last week -- comes after a woman was badly injured in Tameside and a boy was killed in Salford by falling headstones.

The Health and Safety Executive ordered the nationwide review and the council has identified scores of potentially dangerous stones and memorials at cemeteries in Radcliffe and Bury.

But one mother was horrified when she went to visit her son's grave.

Marie Hall said: "Someone rang to warn me that the headstone was lying on the ground, but it was still shocking to see it. It wasn't that big and it was only two years old. Surely it couldn't have been dangerous."

Head of Bury's parks and countryside Mr Neil Long said: "The council is dealing with this in as sympathetic and compassionate a way as we can and we are very sensitive to people's feelings.

"We have been ordered to carry out this work for safety reasons.

"Where it appears someone is regularly visiting and tending a grave, we have asked the contractors to ensure the work is done as a priority."

The council has posted warning signs at the gates of the cemetery and has placed individual cards on each affected headstone explaining what is going on. People can also ring the cemeteries office on 0161 253 6510 and letters will be sent to families where addresses are known.

Maintenance of memorials rests with the individual family, but the council has a "duty of care" as the landowner. Stonemasons are responsible for ensuring they are installed correctly in the first place.