Hundreds of dangerous headstones in a burial ground are to be laid flat to protect the public.

An estimated 80 per cent of the memorials at Waltonwrays cemetery in Skipton have been found to be unsafe.

Craven District Council has now launched a safety inspection programme at its two other cemeteries: St Andrew's at Kildwick at St Mary's at Ingleton.

Tests at Waltonwrays show eight out of ten memorials are unsafe.

Craven council's head of operational services, Greg Robinson, said he believed more than 1,000 headstones would have to be inspected throughout the district.

"Should the 80 per cent failure rate also be in evidence at the other burial grounds, the authority will be faced with taking action over up to 800 headstones and memorials.

"This is a very high percentage and while we are very disappointed to find such a large proportion has failed the test, we have no alternative but to lay them flat. This is an extremely sensitive issue affecting the feelings of relatives and it will be handled as sympathetically as possible," he said.

A programme of re-setting the memorials would then be investigated, especially for those with historical importance.

He said steps had already been taken to improve the standards of present-day monuments.

Craven Council leader Councillor Carl Lis said: "I can understand that this action will cause concern and families could be upset, but we have to say that health and safety is paramount."

The council has set up a special helpline for relatives and the bereavement services manager can be reached on 01756 796118.

Bradford Council is currently carrying out a survey of all 24 cemeteries.

Mr Robinson said the work was part of a programme of inspections of graveyards by local authorities in response to a number of incidents in which people had been injured by unsafe memorials.