A SICKENING scene of destruction that has brought tears to the eyes of church minister Dougie Bird and people arriving to lay Christmas tributes on the graves of their loved ones. Mindless yobs have systematically smashed huge carved stones and defaced graves and other stonework in the churchyard of St James, Farnworth.

Yesterday the vandals' work was branded an "absolute disgrace" by people who arrived to lay wreaths at their relatives' resting places, just before Christmas.

Marble crucifixes have been toppled and stone crosses broken in a long running catalogue of destruction. Now more headstones have been damaged. In one area more than 20 headstones have been defaced and it is claimed the burial ground is also frequented by drug addicts.

Part-time minister, the Rev Bird, 60, stormed: "It's just sickening, despicable vandalism. What pleasure they can derive from it is beyond me. It must be heartbreaking for any people who come to lay a wreath at Christmas time, to find their relative's grave has been damaged.

"But there's little we can do save putting an electric fence round the graves or putting CCTV cameras up but, knowing round here, they would probably be stolen."

Residents estimate that the attacks have gone on for more than 10 years. More than 20 headstones have been damaged or destroyed. Rev Bird added: "It isn't kids who have done this because these headstones weigh a lot and you need some strength to do what has been done."

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