Ref. 25580-22A CIVIC leader is calling for a review of security at a Swindon cemetery following a spate of vandal attacks.

The latest incident at Radnor Street cemetery in Kingshill happened on Friday night, when several gravestones were damaged.

Coun Michael Barnes (Lab, Western) is calling on Swindon Council to do more to protect the site.

"This is sickening, mindless vandalism. These people are coming here with the intention of causing damage," he said.

"It is totally unacceptable and must be very distressing to relatives who have loved ones buried here.

"Security needs to be reviewed urgently, and we should also do more to make the gravestones safer.

"This should be a proper place for people to pay their respects.

"Many civic dignitaries who helped to make the town successful are buried here, and it is vital we preserve it."

Coun Barnes plans to raise the issue with Coun Fionuala Foley, lead member for Swindon Services.

When the Evening Advertiser visited the cemetery with Coun Barnes yesterday, there were several signs of recent damage.

Memorial crosses had been kicked over and statues broken. Vandals had smashed the head off a statue at the grave of a 14-year-old girl killed in a cycling accident in 1938.

In another incident, a memorial cross had been kicked over and was lying across a grave.

Coun Foley (Con, Old Town and Lawns) said she shared the concerns about the vandalism.

"I will look into the situation, but there is no easy solution.

"We need to ask parents and schools to make children aware that cemeteries are very precious places," she said.

Coun Kevin Small, Labour leader on Swindon Council, has relatives buried at the cemetery. His great-grandfather, great-greatmother and an aunt are buried together in one grave.

He said: "I fully support Coun Barnes on this.

"As a family we lay flowers on the grave at Christmas and it always makes me sad because the area looks so dilapidated.

"It should be a proper tribute to those buried there."

John Short, director of Swindon Services, said the council was doing what it could to protect the burial ground.

"We lock the gates at 8.30pm during the summer and have security guards who do random checks.

"The trouble is that if people want to cause damage they wait until the patrols have finished," he said.