GRAVESTONE raiders have attacked up to eight memorial stones at Westhoughton Cemetery.

Retired couple Kevin and Betty Seagrave travelled from Oldham to see the grave of Betty's parents Harold and Bertha Seddon, who lived in Westhoughton, when they discovered the entire stone surround had been taken.

The couple are now calling for tighter security to prevent further attacks.

Mrs Seddon died in 1942 and her husband, who was a former landlord of the Clifton Arms, Bolton, passed away 20 years ago.

Their daughter Mrs Seagrave, aged 65, said: "We visit about once a year and we have never had any problems. It was such a shock, I was very upset. Who steals from a graveyard?

"They left the main headstone and instead took the stones surrounding it. They had picked graves with the same type of stone.

"We could not believe that the gates are not locked at night - that is making it easy for people to drive in and take what they want."

The couple will not replace the stones as they fear a repeat of the theft.

Westhoughton Cllr David Wilkinson said: "Nothing is sacred these days. This must be very distressing."

John White, superintendent of cemeteries and crematoriums, said he thought around nine graves had been attacked since January.

"Our security response team will make sure the cemetery is locked every night, as far as I was concerned it was being locked already."

Police have stepped up patrols around Golborne St Thomas' Church following two weekends of graveyard vandalism when 12 headstones were pushed over and one smashed in daylight attacks.

The Rector, the Rev Robert Williams, believes the culprits are aged between 11 and 14. He said: "This latest vandalism is cause for concern and we have to nip it in the bud before it happens again. Some of the Victorian gravestones are large and heavy and it must take two or three people to push them over."

A police spokesman said: "We are aware of the problem and extra patrols will be in the area."