POLICE have arrested a man in connection with a spate of graveside thefts that have left bereaved families devastated.

A 73-year-old man has been charged with four counts of theft relating to items allegedly stolen from graves at St Andrew’s Church in Darlington.

Between January and the end of March, a number of visitors to the churchyard reported items missing from the graves of their loved ones.

Darlington councillor Sonia Kane spoke out after a potted plant left in remembrance of her mother was stolen.

Cllr Kane said: “I cannot understand the mentality of anyone who would do this – to steal things and take them away from a grave beggars belief and is upsetting.

“I’d ask that person why they are doing this and what they were thinking of. It’s very sad.

“It probably happens at other churchyards but is the kind of thing people don’t often bother to report to police.”

A police spokesman said a number of items believed to have been stolen from the churchyard had been recovered during a house search.

He said: “The thefts have been extremely distressing for those who have relatives buried at the church.

“If there are more victims yet to come forward, we would ask them to contact us.”

Reverend Mark East launched a public appeal for information in relation to the thefts after hearing from affected parishioners.

He said the resulting information helped police in their investigation.

Rev East said he hoped the arrest would bring an end to the issue.

He added: “People have been very upset by what has been happening.

“Whoever did this may not have realised the impact this would have."

Rev East added: "It is a churchyard that anybody can come and go from and the last thing we wanted to do was start locking it up.”

Anyone with information about the thefts who has not already spoken to police is asked to call them on 101.