PAGES were torn from the Book of Remembrance in the chapel at Ledbury Cemetery in an act the town’s mayor has labelled “wanton vandalism”.

Soil from the cemetery was also thrown around the chapel, while a fire extinguisher has been let off and the front steps etched in other incidents over recent months.

Mayor Allen Conway said that, while the cemetery is monitored by the council’s grounds officer during the week, it is unattended at weekends.

“This is just wanton vandalism and extremely thoughtless,” he said. “A Book of Remem-brance is a very sensitive thing by its very nature, and it is so sad that someone would do this. We have had problems before with the chapel. We have had people coming in and causing damage, throwing hymn books around and that sort of thing.”

The latest incident took place over the weekend of Saturday and Sunday, May 21-22.

The council’s cemetery sub-committee will now consider the matter before making a recommendation to the environment and leisure committee.

Councillor Conway said options could include locking the doors at weekends or installing a CCTV camera. However this would cost in the region of £3,000.

“It is a difficult situation. We cannot allow things like this to continue but at the same time we don’t want to spoil the opportunity for people to come up at the weekend and pay their respects to their loved ones.”

Deputy mayor Tony Bradford called the incident “mindless”.

“I simply cannot understand why someone would want to vandalise their own cemetery and their own chapel,” he said.

“They are wrecking an area that is particularly sensitive for the community.”

The town council is working with the relevant authorities to identify those responsible and prevent further incidents.

It is urging all visitors to the cemetery to be alert to any suspicious activity on the premises.

Suspicious activity should be reported to the council on 01531 632306, police on 0300 3333000 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.