CCTV cameras are among the measures being considered by a council to prevent anti-social behaviour at a town’s cemetery.

Relatives of people buried at Bishop Auckland Town Cemetery have been calling for action for years following previous damage to graves at the 7.3 hectare site.

Improvements have been made since 2017, but families said they were “disgusted” last month when flowers, broken ornaments and other memorial pieces were smashed or thrown from the graves, including those of 25 babies.

Since then, Durham County Council and Durham Constabulary have been working with the community and town councillors to look at ways to prevent further damage.

A meeting was held between the different agencies where they agreed to look at measures including landscaping work to alter bushes and remove lower branches of trees; putting covers on bins; meeting with relatives to discuss their concerns; and police carrying out a crime prevention survey to look at potentially installing CCTV, fencing and locked gates.

Neighbourhood protection manager Ian Hoult said: “We are continuing to take steps to try and prevent these acts in the cemetery, but at this stage it remains unclear who is carrying them out.

“Someone knows who it is that is carrying out these highly distressing acts on what should be a place of peace and remembrance so we appeal to the local community and to anyone with information about these incidents to get in touch with police on 101.”

The council confirmed officers had begun landscaping works on July 25 to “open up the area and increase visibility”.

Tony Johnston, the council’s bereavement co-ordinator, added: “As we agreed when we met with families, councillors and members of the community, we have begun to carry out landscaping works to open up the area and increase visibility.

“This includes pruning branches from trees and shrubs, removing some trees which had self-seeded and grown of their own accord, and cutting hedges. We have also fitted lids to the cemetery’s bins, and added extra signs to the gates.

“We would like to thank local people who came and carried out a litter pick to help keep the site clean and tidy.”

No comment was received from Durham Constabulary by the time The Northern Echo went to print.

Anyone with information about the vandalism should call the police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800-555111.