DISRESPECTFUL photographers and goths have come under fire for damaging the graveyard made famous through the Dracula legend and using it as a backdrop for cheap photo opportunities.

Now traditional goths are so incensed they have started an online petition calling for St Mary’s churchyard in Whitby to be closed during festival weekends to stop the army of snappers and fancy dress fans trampling over the graves.

Over 430 people have already signed it as supporters get their teeth into the campaign following mounting anger in the town.

The churchyard is renowned worldwide after being used by author Bram Stoker in his novel as the backdrop for the arrival of Dracula in England.

Goth supporter A J Stratton, started the petition a week ago on www.change.org. They say the weekend was set up 22 years ago by a group of like minded music lovers.

“Now, besides the fabulous music events and alternative market Whitby is inundated with thousands of people wanting to dress up and take photographs,” he said.

“Unfortunately, despite pleas from the event organisers, and from St Mary's Church themselves, people are still disrespecting the graves of the ancestors of the Whitby residents, by using their graves as props for a cheap photo opportunity.

“Not only is this disrespectful to the families and the church, it is giving goths a bad name, causing tension in the community for those who are goth all year round, not just for the weekend.

“We are asking St Mary's church to close their churchyard for the goth weekend, to avoid the disrespect of the graves, damage to the grounds and publicity of the undesirable behaviour."

They say an appointment system could be used for residents wanting to visit graves.

Church leaders as St Mary the Virgin Parish church declined to comment but they have put up signs at the graveyard.

The sign says:”Please respect our churchyard for our families and relatives are buried here. Please don’t use their graves or gravestones for photographic purposes.”

The petition has attracted support from all over the UK, and as far as Qatar.

One supporter complained: "I have been attending this event for many years and find it appalling that goths seem to be getting mistaken for people in fancy dress performing for photographers. We attend a music festival and spend a good deal of Saturday and Sunday avoiding these photographers.”

Another protested:” “As someone who regularly attends Whitby Goth Weekend events I find this behaviour disrespectful and abhorrent. “We are here to enjoy the music and events, not upset residents by being disrespectful or prancing about for photos.”