IRREVERENT vandals ran amok in a cemetery which locals call "Drug City" and wrecked a chapel.

The drink-crazed yobs targeted the chapel in the middle of Hindley Cemetery breaking windows, smashing guttering and drain pipes and damaging the roof of the building which is undergoing a £15,000 refurbishment.

They dug up flower beds and trashed whatever they could, leaving a trail of debris and empty lager cans in their wake.

But as police and council representatives surveyed the damage yesterday, local man Ian Wilks -- who lives near the cemetery at the top of Castle Hill Road -- strongly condemned the senseless attack. He said: "Local people have seen what has been going on for a long time here -- they call this place 'Drug City'.

"We see them coming in around 7pm or 7.30pm. They wait until the cemetery gates are locked then jump over the wall.

"They sit in groups of eight, nine or 10 holding drug parties. They turn up in cars so they are obviously not little kids. My uncle and also my best mate -- Pete Worswick, who died on his motorbike, are buried here. I come through here every day and I know what is going on -- but short of taking a gun to them what can you do?"

Mr Wilks had arrived on the scene walking his dog after local bobby PC Mark Schofield had met Cllr Jack Topping and Wigan's cemeteries services manager Tony Bassett to assess the situation.

Mr Bassett revealed how the vandalised chapel had been shut for a few months for renovations.

"Over the past three months £15,000 had been spent refurbishing the building. We were hoping it would soon be back in use so families could continue to use if for funeral services.

"Guttering and downspouts have been completely smashed and they have also vandalised the roof and windows and dug up flowers."

Cllr Topping, who lives in Hindley, was dismayed by what he saw. "This is the third or fourth time in recent weeks that we have had problems with vandals in the Hindley area.

Now PC Schofield, who led a campaign to stamp out town centre vandalism in Hindley just before Christmas, is urging witnesses to step forward with information. He said yesterday: "We take this seriously and we will be in contact with the local authority and stepping up security patrols. We will be looking to make arrests for this."

Anyone with any information should contact PC Schofield at Hindley on 0161 856 7391.