ORNAMENTS and trinkets left on the graves of loved ones have been stolen from York's Fulford Cemetery.

The thefts have taken place over the last three weeks, with three reported to the cemetery's superintendent, Stuart McCabe.

Even the children's burial plots have been targeted. Many of the headstones are decorated with toys, windmills, candles and wind chimes, and even some of these have been taken.

One grave which has been targeted is that of Thomas and Edith Culkin. Their daughters, Marjorie and Maureen Culkin, of Skelton, said they have had to plant pansies three times now as on two occasions - the latest being last week - someone has pulled them up and strewn them about.

Maureen said: "It upsets you when you are buying plants for them and they are dug up. They just threw them about. It's disrespectful."

The two sisters visit their parents' grave every week, and said they have seen children playing in the graveyard.

Stuart McCabe, the cemetery's superintendent, said instances of theft had been reported to him.

Mr McCabe said: "We are aware that there have been some thefts in the cemetery, it doesn't seem to be targeted against any one individual, it's just random. It's possibly kids, but not necessarily. You just don't know in this day and age.

"The relatives were quite distressed and all we can do is offer our condolences and say we're doing what we can."

Rev Allan Hughes of St Denys' Church, in Walmgate, said the trinkets and ornaments bring comfort to the bereaved, particularly in the children's section. He said: "I would say that the people who put them there place them in a sensitive manner, but the people who take them have no sensitivity at all."

Mr McCabe has worked at the cemetery since 2000 and in the last seven years he said this is the first time this kind of thing has happened.

He said: "There just seems to be a spate of it at the moment. It's not something we've suffered from in the years I've been here."

Someone does live in the cemetery grounds and the gates are locked every evening at 8pm while the cemetery office closes at 4pm.

There is also a perimeter fence, but Mr McCabe said if someone wants to get in they just have to climb over and it is very difficult to police the graveyard 24 hours a day.

As it is public ground anyone is free to go into the cemetery during the day although employees have been told to be diligent and report anyone acting suspiciously.