More grave damage

VANDALS have struck the borough's cemeteries once again.

Up to 13 gravestones were pushed over and damaged at Lavender Hill Cemetery in Cedar Road, Enfield, when thieves broke in last month.

Meanwhile vandals went on the rampage at the weekend in the grounds of Christchurch in The Green, Southgate, spraying graffiti on the church wall and damaging the garden.

Vicar Phillip Way said: "This is very distressing. We are trying to raise money to repair the church and vandalism only adds to the churche's problems."

The latest incidents add to a catalogue of destruction caused by thieves and vandals in the past year calling into question the need for more security.

In July a distraught son hit out at thieves who stole an expensive bench from his mother's grave at Tottenham Cemetery in Montagu Road, Edmonton.

The incident took place just weeks after a mother reported that a thief had looted the grave of her two-year-old son at Enfield Crematorium.

And more than £20,000 worth of damage was caused in June when vandals targeted 29 tombstones at the cemetery in Montagu Road, Enfield.

The council is also facing an ongoing problem of vandalism at Hertford Road Cemetery.

A council spokeswoman said: "It is a difficult balance to make sure that cemeteries are secure and yet allow the public free access. We will continue to work closely with the police to prevent this from happening and hopefully catch the culprits."

12:24 Wednesday 2nd October 2002

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