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Flowers and mementoes were left strewn across the graveyard following the attack
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Pint-sized vandals wreck cemetery
Chris Jones1/ 5/2008
BEREAVED families across town are in shock after three child vandals targeted a Middleton Cemetery.
The trio, believed to be aged between six and eight years old, damaged memorial plaques and toilets at Boarshaw Cemetery during an early evening onslaught last Thursday (24 April).
The youngsters flooded toilets, uprooted lovingly placed flowers and smashed priceless family memorabilia to loved ones during the crime spree.
In one sickening act of vandalism, a photo was torn from a memorial plaque and strewn on the path.
Staff at the cemetery described it as one of the worst incidents they have witnessed leaving devastated families to come to terms with the loss of priceless items of memorabilia.
Cemetery watchman John Cameron, who arrived at around 6pm to find the scene of carnage, said: "It’s disgusting, I feel so sorry for the bereaved families.
"I wasn’t at the scene, I arrived about two minutes after the devastation had taken place. I don’t know the names of those involved but they were between six and eight years old.
"They flooded the toilets, blocked the sinks, left the water running, they ripped plaques off, tore memorabilia off, then they went to the garden of remembrance and threw the flowers all over the garden then walked down the path and smashed up anything they could find."
Mr Cameron, a watchman at the Boarshaw Road cemetery for the past six years said it was the worst act of vandalism at the site in the past three years, but said acts of vandalism in cemetaries was a growing problem across the borough.
He added: "It’s happening all over, it’s got to the extent we have had to install some very expensive security elsewhere, such as CCTV in some places, and that costs ultimately goes to the tax player."
Police were able to apprehend the three young offenders, and visited their parents that evening to inform them.
The parents and their children attended the scene and aided cemetery staff clear up the mess.
Terry Flynn, Assistant Manager of Operations for Rochdale Cemeteries said: "We are grateful the parents came to help clean up but there had been a huge amount of devastation.
"Statues and all sorts of memorabilia have been broken. We have been able to salvage some, which is being kept in a storehouse at the cemetery and would encourage anyone who has items missing from the memorials of relatives to come and claim anything that is theirs."
He added concerned relatives hoping to reclaim uprooted items should call 01706 645219.
A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police confirmed they were called out to the incident just after 6pm last Thursday.
They added: "Cemeteries are a resting place for people and an area of tranquillity for loved ones to visit and this sort of behavior is unacceptable."
What's your view? Click on 'Submit comment' or write to Readers Letters, Middleton Guardian, 24A Fountain Street, Middleton, M24 1AH
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7/05/2008 at 17:51
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