VANDALS who desecrated gravestones have left local families in shock.

Residents of Llanfoist informed officers from Monmouthshire County Council on Friday that around five gravestones at the village's New Cemetery had been vandalised and there had been an attempted break-in at the church at the centre of the site.

Council officers believe that vandals seem to have taken a sledgehammer to the headstones and bases at Llanfoist cemetery and have also attempted to break in to the former church, which is now used as a storage building by smashing panels on the wooden door.

Local councillor Eric Saxon said, "It's a great shame that such an awful thing has happened. I was told about it and I also heard that a car was vandalised around the same time.

"I am shocked that it's happened because Llanfoist is a quiet village and it's not happened before.

"There have been no reports from residents about anti social behaviour or gangs causing a nuisance anywhere within the village so I am shocked.

"It's bad news and I am hoping that the police take it seriously and they make some progress. We certainly don't want it happening again. It's very upsetting," said Councillor Saxon.

A spokesman for Monmouthshire County Council said, "We are sorry to confirm that Llanfoist cemetery was subject to vandalism late last week.

"Council officers discovered on Friday, April 23 that a number of headstones and bases had been vandalised and that a storage building at the cemetery had been broken into.

"The police were immediately informed. We carried out an assessment of the scale of the damage and identified that at least five headstones were affected.  Although these headstones belong to graves which are over forty years old, we are well aware that bereaved relatives will be distressed by the damage.

He added, "We are making every effort to contact surviving relatives and are co-operating fully with the Police in their enquires."