CALLOUS vandals smashed dozens of headstones at York Cemetery, including some belonging to war heroes.

The group of hooligans left a trail of destruction at the cemetery, in Cemetery Road, knocking irreplaceable headstones and plinths to the ground and breaking stone crosses.

Among more than 30 damaged memorials - some of which date to the turn of the century - is a Second World War grave tended by the Commonwealth Commission.

Bosses at the cemetery, which is managed by York Cemetery Trust, fear the repairs bill could run into thousands of pounds and say they are unable to afford replacement gravestones.

Cemetery warden Vanessa Temple said: "These people have absolutely no consideration or respect for either the people who are grieving or the dead who should be left in peace.

"It's beyond my imagination. I cannot possibly think why anyone would want to do anything like this. It's very distressing for the families, if they are still around, and for visitors to the cemetery.

"The cemetery dates back to 1837 and is part of the historical heritage of this city.

"These heartless thugs are trampling all over it with no regard for anybody else."

Mrs Temple discovered a trail of 15 headstones and memorials that had been pushed to the ground, smashed and kicked to pieces when she returned to work after the weekend.

She said the vandals appear to have targeted old and less well protected gravestones at random and she fears that more damage could be found as staff check the 24-acre grounds.

Last month, up to 16 more memorials were found to have been attacked. Among them include stones which have had crosses and other ornamentation apparently kicked off them.

Mrs Temple said the cemetery's board of trustees was working to improve security at the site, which she said is "vulnerable" despite being surrounded by fences and having gates which are locked at night.

She said staff were investigating whether Fulford community rangers could include the cemetery on their evening patrol and added that £1,000 is to be spent improving a hedge bordering Low Moor allotments.

Sergeant Colin Ventress, of York Police, said the spate of vandalism had been reported to the police and inquiries were continuing.

He added that community officers were working with cemetery staff to help protect the site and had offered to include it in their patrols.

Updated: 14:18 Tuesday, July 15, 2003