POLICE are investigating after a number of gravestones and memorials were damaged at a village church in a "mindless act of vandalism".

A number of stone crosses were pushed over within the graveyard at St Mary and St Michael Church in Great Urswick overnight last night.

Only graves with stone crosses above them appear to have been targeted and as they bear the final resting place of parishioners who died some time ago it might not be possible to trace any relatives.

Considering the weight and stability of the damaged memorials, volunteers who look after the church believe it can only have been done by someone sufficiently strong.

Church warden Margaret Turbitt said the vandalism was something "you just don't expect in a small village like Urswick".

"We do get sheep in the graveyard but this is malicious and mindless damage," she added.

There is evidence that a church existed on the site of St Mary and St Michael before the Norman conquest but the earliest parts of the present church date from the 13th century.

Two memorials in the graveyard are Grade II listed - a monument to the Gale family with dates between 1816 and 1903 and a sundial dating back to 1729.

Fellow church wardens Sonjie Marshall and Jean Hopkins reported the damage to police but fear there will be little prospect of any evidence being found at the scene.

"We've never been faced with this situation before," Miss Turbitt said.

"People who live in the village just wouldn't do this kind of thing.

"Some of the houses opposite the church are lived in by older people and to think this has happened across the road from them doesn't bear thinking about.

"We need people to be vigilant and to look out for anything suspicious. We leave the church open between 10am and 4pm and we'd hate to have to lock it up."

Anyone who has information about the vandalism is asked to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.