THIEVES have stripped the roof of a disused chapel at Atherton cemetery of slates worth hundreds of pounds.

The thieves targeted the former chapel, which has been put up for sale, over the weekend.

It is the latest in a series of attacks on the cemetery and council chiefs are determined to act quickly before the chapel follows the path of nearby Briarcroft Youth Club which is scheduled for demolition after a series of vandalism attacks saw it finally gutted by fire.

Increased security at Atherton Cemetery is believed to be high on the council agenda after recent attacks also saw graves being robbed of flowers and ornaments.

Cemeteries Officer Tony Bassett said: "We believe that this was a carefully planned theft and not simply a case of wanton vandalism. There is a big market for the kind of slates that were taken and the thieves must have known the chapel was up for sale so as no longer to be a liability to public funds.

"We shall now have the roof repaired as soon as possible.

"We would love to be able to provide permanent protection for all borough cemeteries, however resources don't stretch that far. It is a sad reflection on modern society that not even a cemetery chapel is safe."

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