A CHILD was crushed to death by a falling gravestone in a North Yorkshire cemetery.

The tragedy happened while the six-year-old local boy, who has not yet been named, was playing with friends. at the time.

He was pronounced dead at the scene in Grove Road cemetery off Skipton Road in Harrogate.

The accident happened just before 7pm yesterday.

Sergeant Paul Wren said: "Officers attended the scene but unfortunately a six-year-old local boy was pronounced dead at the scene."

An ambulance took the body to Harrogate District Hospital, and police notified the parents.

The death comes after Harrogate Borough Council carried out a safety survey on the cemetery in the last year as part of a memorial safety audit on all ten council-run cemetery sites in Harrogate.

Kevin Douglas, director of leisure and amenities services at the council, attended the scene last night.

He said: "We will be launching an investigation into the incident on Monday after we have been informed of all the information from the police.

"I can confirm that a safety audit has been carried out on Grove Road cemetery and work has been undertaken to lay memorials down. It is quite an old cemetery."

Sergeant Wren added: "It is believed the boy was playing with friends at the time."