BEREAVED families have voiced their anger that the gates to two town cemeteries are now left unlocked at night.

Spennymoor Town Council, in County Durham, said it decided to stop locking both its cemeteries during the hours of darkness following calls for longer opening hours.

But many people fear that Spennymoor Cemetery, on Rock Road, and Tudhoe Cemetery, on York Hill Road, will become haunts for troublemakers and be targeted by vandals.

The sites include war graves, pit disaster memorials, memorial gardens and both sites and grounds staff have been recognised with council and industry awards.

Afghanistan casualty Private Dean Hutchinson, of the Royal Logistic Corps, is buried at York Hill.

His mother, Elaine Hutchinson, said: “This cemetery is kept perfect, people like to come here to pay their respects to loved ones.

“If everyone knows the gates are open we could get all sorts coming in and the place could be trashed.

“A cemetery should be a place of respect and protected.”

Owen and Karen Fitzgerald, whose daughter Rebecca, 30, died suddenly in January, worry about the move.

Mrs Fitzgerald said: “We brought her home thinking it was a nice peaceful environment, a safe and secure one.

“The police cannot police the cemeteries and CCTV won’t prevent vandalism, I really hope the council reverses the decision before anything bad happens.”

Other people have questioned the logic behind unlocking cemetery gates but continuing to secure Jubilee Park, but the council said it has not been asked to increase hours at the park.

Alan Bateman and Ronnie Moore, who both have relatives in both sites, said the council has put people’s final resting places at risk and families would be outraged to pay for any repairs, which may no longer be covered by insurance.

Kathleen Foster, whose parents are at Rock Road, added: “I don’t believe anyone finds it impossible to visit a grave in the old opening times, people might work difficult hours but not every day.

“If people are accessing the cemeteries after dark they are probably up to no good.”

An online petition set up at change.org gathered 200 names on the first day and residents would volunteer to lock the gates if the council’s reason is to cut staff costs.

Colin Ranson, facilities manager, said the decision is not financially motivated but that the council is proud of its cemeteries and wanted to increase accessibility in line with requests and most others across the country.

He said: “The town council has responded positively to customer demand and the changing lifestyles that many residents now enjoy.

“The gates, previously locked at the cemeteries during early morning and on an evening, will in the future be closed but remain unlocked to enable family members and friends wishing to visit loved at a time suitable and convenient to them.

“The cemeteries will also benefit from CCTV cameras recently installed.”