SEVERAL gravestones have been damaged after a stolen car was driven through a cemetery.

A blue Vauxhall Astra was driven around the graveyard at Meadowfield, near Durham, in the early hours of Friday morning before the car was dumped.

The thief left a trail of destruction by wrecking eight headstones as the car was driven across graves, including one of a six-year-old girl buried a century ago.

The headstone of Catherine Ainsley’s grandparents has been pushed down into the ground.

She said: “I am absolutely heartbroken. I cannot understand why anyone would want to do that.

“It shows absolutely no respect at all for either those that have passed away or the families that visit here.”

Bill Murphy, 71, from Brandon, who has five relatives buried in the cemetery, came to check on their graves on Tuesday but there was no damage.

He said: “I was absolutely disgusted when I heard about it. I could not believe that another human being could do that. I cannot believe the mentality of some people.”

Steph Garton was devastated to discover her great grandparents' grave had been smashed.

"The hurt these people have caused families is horrendous and the council need to fix the gates to lock them at night because that is the problem and why these people are getting in," she said.

The community is now rallying round to raise money towards the cost of repairs.

Oliver Sherratt, head of direct services for Durham County Council, said: “This was a deplorable act and has caused a great deal of distress for families whose relatives’ graves have been damaged.

“We are contacting these families and applaud the efforts of local people in raising money for them.

“We will be repairing the damage caused to the grass at the cemetery as soon as possible and meeting local councillors to discuss access.”

Durham Constabulary said a blue Vauxhall Astra was stolen from outside an address in Brandon between 10.30am on Thursday and 5.45am on Friday.

A spokesman said: “We were alerted shortly after noon on Friday to an incident at Meadowfield Cemetery following reports that a vehicle had been driven around the graveyard and then abandoned."

He added: “Investigations are ongoing.”