At least 20 gravestones from the Victorian era have been smashed up by a group of yobs at a cemetery.
Shocking pictures from the scene in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, show the damaged headstones which have been ripped out the ground and toppled over.
Dozens of the graves, some of which date more than 130 years, have been ‘destroyed beyond repair’, according to one local councillor.
One in particular was from December 1884 and had been laid for a two-month-old baby boy who had died around two weeks before Christmas.
Thugs have caused more than £4,000 in damage at Leamington Spa Cemetery – but the history can never be replaced.
Police say they are now hunting the ‘callous and cruel’ perpetrators who went on a rampage through the graveyard damaging 22 headstones between 8am and 8pm last Saturday.
‘This was a particularly callous and cruel act of criminal damage,’ said Sgt Trent McMurray of Warwickshire Police.
‘Those responsible would obviously be distraught if someone damaged the headstone of one of their loved ones – but they believe it’s acceptable to do that to others.
‘We are absolutely not going to tolerate this disgusting behaviour in our community.
‘We are working hard to trace the offenders and we look forward to holding them to account.’
Officers said the gravestones targeted were near the Windmill pedestrian gate.
Warwick district councillor Will Roberts said: ‘We are shocked and saddened to see such mindless vandalism.
‘Sadly, several have been destroyed beyond repair, which we know will be upsetting for visitors to the cemetery to see.
‘This is not just about the physical damage, but also the history and heritage of the families in our community which cannot be replaced.’
Police are now urging any witnesses or anyone with information to come forward.
Just this week, the heartbreaking mystery behind a group of ancient stone circles was revealed.
And in the US, the reason why a gravestone is in the middle of a pavement also came to light.
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