Vandals who wreaked havoc in a bank holiday weekend attack on an Angus cemetery have been condemned.
Gravestones were toppled and a wall and shed damaged in what has been labelled an “appalling incident”.
The vandalism is the latest in a series of similar attacks at Newmonthill over recent years and a plea has been made for the public to help catch the culprits.
Council chiefs are also making contact with families whose loved ones’ memorials may have been smashed.
The incident happened some time between 4pm on Friday and 7.30am on Tuesday, when shocked workmen discovered the trail of destruction.
Four headstones were pushed over, two holes left in the machine shed roof at the cemetery and stones toppled from the wall beside the shed.
It is thought the holes in the roof were caused by someone walking over the top of the shed.
A final cost of the vandalism spree has yet to be determined, but the roof damage alone has been estimated at £1,000.
A council spokesman said: “This is an appalling act of vandalism which we will be repairing as soon as possible.
“We will also be making every effort to be in touch with the families affected by this mindless vandalism.
“We have reported this to the police and we would urge anyone with any information to get in touch with the police by calling 101.”
Previous attacks on Newmonthill brought warnings of the potentially deadly danger posed by a gravestone falling on top of someone.