Disgust as vandals target girls' grave

The parents of two Shropshire sisters who were killed in a car crash have been left devastated after their shared grave was vandalised in a county cemetery.

Fred and Joan Smith arrived at their daughters' grave at St Matthew's Church in Donnington, Telford, on Wednesday night, to find part of the headstone had been smashed off and the flowers removed by vandals.

Their daughters, Heather, 26, and 21-year-old Linda, died in a triple-fatal crash caused by a drink-driver on the A5 in 1993.

It is the second county cemetery to be targeted recently. Several graves at Castle Green in Ironbridge were also damaged.

Mr Smith, 72, of Winifred's Drive, said he and his wife visited their beloved daughters' grave every night but were now counting the cost of the damage caused by the vandals. It is not yet known how much it will cost to repair the headstone.

He said: "We went there and the stone had been absolutely wrecked. They had taken all of the flowers off, broken two pieces off the site of the stone and kicked them off.

"We have always kept it tidy. It's a lovely churchyard, it's such a shame."

Mr Smith said it would not stop the couple going there but hoped they would not have to face any more upset. It has really upset my wife.

"We go up there every night. The girls' photos are on there as well but then you see that mess.

"We cannot understand why it has happened. It's just sheer vandalism," Mr Smith said.

"I don't think it's children doing this because the parts knocked over would take some kicking because they were cemented to the stone."

A petition launched by grieving relatives of people buried in Castle Green has already attracted more than 1,000 signatures after several graves, including those in the special baby area, were vandalised.

Bosses at Telford & Wrekin Council said they would be holding a meeting with relatives to discuss ways to improve security at the cemetery.

By Kirsty Smallman