VANDALS have targeted Steeton's cemetery, knocking down gravestones.

Several graves have already been attacked, with ornamental features pushed over.

Now Bradford Council, which looks after the cemetery, has vowed to increase patrols of park rangers in a bid to deter the vandals.

The damage to the gravestones was originally blamed on council workmen who were thought to have accidentally knocked them over while mowing the grass and tending the area.

But the council's cemeteries department says this is not the case and it will be taking steps to tackle the ongoing problem.

Steeton-with-Eastburn Parish Council chairman and Craven ward councillor David Emmott visited the cemetery off Elmsley Street this week to look at the damage.

He said he was appalled by the number to stones that had been pushed over.

And he urged locals to contact the police immediately to report anyone seen acting suspiciously in the area.

"Whoever's done this obviously has no respect," he told the Herald.

"There's plenty of play areas and open spaces for people to go in Steeton and Eastburn with out having to resort to coming into the cemetery unless there are genuine reasons for being there.

"I hope they realise that there's going to be a lot of upset people who come to visit the graves of their loved ones, only to find the stones have been pushed over by mindless vandals.

"I welcome the news that patrols of the area are going to be increased and I would ask Steeton people to be vigilant and report if they see anything out of the ordinary.

"We must stop this kind of thing from happening again and instil in people that cemeteries are places which should be treated with the utmost respect at all times."

A spokesman for Bradford Council's cemeteries department said three marble crosses had recently been damaged in the graveyard.

"The police have been informed and the council's ranger service will be doing extra patrols in the area," he said. "We have every sympathy with the relatives who we are trying to contact.

"It is sad, but vandalism of this sort happens far too often and cemetery staff have made sure the memorials are safe and tidy.

"The vandalism was not caused by council workers."

Police say they will be keeping an eye on the cemetery for anyone who doesn't have a legitimate reason to be there.

The area's police chief, Insp Paul Spencer, said he would be passing the information on to the village's new community constable, PC Richard Leonard.

"I will be asking him to keep a watching brief," he told the Herald.

Anyone who sees anyone committing vandalism in the cemetery should contact Keighley Police on 01535 617059.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.