'Wicked and senseless': Much Wenlock Cemetery vandalised
Vandals have caused "wicked, senseless" damage to Much Wenlock Cemetery by driving across the land.
The offenders have driven a vehicle across the grass at the cemetery, leaving deep tyre marks, as well as damaging trinkets left on graves by grieving relatives.
Photos taken by CAA qualified drone operator, Virtual Shropshire, show the damage to the cemetery - which is believed to have taken place overnight between January 22, and January 23.
A spokesman from West Mercia Police said they had received a report of the damage and would be investigating.
Sharon Clayton, town clerk at Much Wenlock Town Council, said: "The town council is very upset by this senseless and unnecessary behaviour. This is a wicked act carried out on sacred ground.
"The wheels of the vehicle have caused damage to some of the trinkets that people have left on the two graves next to where the vehicle drove onto the lawned area.
"As the vehicle turned onto the grass, it broke a lamp that a loved one had place on a grave and the wheels were very close to the edge of a recent burial.
"We want people to know that we are really upset and doing all that we can to find the culprit(s) and it has been reported to the police although, without witnesses, there's not a lot we can do. However, we hope that someone will come forward with information that will help to find them."
She added: "The town council puts a lot of resources into the cemetery with the help of the 'Friends of the Cemetery' who have done and continue to do sterling work. This behaviour is quite unnecessary, and the town council now has to spend tax payer's money repairing the damage and installing security to make sure it won't happen again.
"We are trying to find someone who can repair the lawned area but, at this time of the year, the ground is quite wet and it may be some time before we can make good the ground.
"We hope that people will understand and be assured that we are doing everything we can to keep the cemetery in good order."
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call West Mercia Police on 101, and ask to speak to Broseley and Much Wenlock Safer Neighbourhood Team. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or at crimestoppers-uk.org
