HEARTLESS vandals have caused about £30,000 worth of damage to more than 60 headstones in St Helens Cemetery.

Families visiting the graves of loved ones following the incident, which took place overnight between Wednesday, August 27, and Thursday, August 28, were distressed to find gravestones knocked over and some smashed in two.

One reader phoned the Star to tell of his horror when he went to visit the grave of his wife, who died aged 56 last December. The man, who visits the cemetery every day, said: "I couldn't believe my eyes, it was an absolute disgrace. Fortunately my wife's grave had not been touched, although it was one of the few on that particular row which had survived any type of attack.

"But there was one family at the cemetery while I was there who were completely overcome and traumatised by the whole affair. I believe the grave of their young son, the victim of a road accident, had been smashed in two.

"How could anybody do this? It has caused so much distress to those who are already grieving their loved ones."

A spokesman for St Helens Council, said: "The council absolutely condemns and deplores this wanton act of vandalism which has proved to be distressing both for the families and for the staff at the cemetery who discovered the aftermath of this despicable incident.

"We are at a loss as to how anyone could go into a cemetery and smash and turn over more than 60 headstones causing an estimated £30,000 worth of damage - whatever happened to respect for the dead? This is the worst incident that cemetery manager Dominic Alexander has witnessed in nearly 20 years."

The spokesman added: "We have increased security measures at the cemetery in a joint effort with the police and would be grateful to any member of the public who may be able to pass on any information regarding this desecration."

Police are carrying out surveillance at the cemetery and have increased patrols. They have also carried out house-to-house inquiries in the area surrounding the 70-acre cemetery in a vigorous effort to trace the offenders.

Anyone who may have any information which could lead to the arrests of the persons responsible can contact DS Tommy Wright on 0151 777 6053, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Any information will be treated in strictest confidence.

THE cost of replacing or fixing headstones will have to borne by the families who own the graves, unless the stones have been insured. Anyone requiring advice about insurance for headstones should get details from their stonemason.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.