Residents have been left shocked after gates to a Commonwealth War Grave cemetery in Caithness were badly damaged.
A wrought iron gate and substantial stone post were knocked over in the incident believed to have happened on Wednesday evening, at the graveyard at Corsback Cemetery, on the A836 between Dunnet and Mey.
The Corsback Graveyard has headstones dating as far back as 1560 and is an official war graves site that includes a war memorial. The graveyard is still in use.
Councillor Raymond Bremner, from Caithness, who runs a graveyard project in the north, said he was “saddened and shocked” that anyone could apparently do such damage and not report it.
Mr Bremner said: “It seems like no one knows what has happened – which is even more worrying. Someone did this, they must have known that they did – and they drove off.
“I can not believe that anyone would do this. It saddens and shocks me that it could have happened. This is a graveyard, it is the place where we lay our loved ones to rest. Even if it was an accident, the person who did it should still have reported it. I am speechless at the lack of care by whoever it is that has done this.
“People are genuinely shocked. As many as 30 people help out every weekend in the east of the county to get our graveyards looking as best as we can.
“It is terrible that someone has come along and, all I can imagine is, driven into the post and knocked it over – and then driven off. The should own up to it now.”
Highland Council said that the incident at the graveyard had not been reported to officers, a spokeswoman said: “Damage to council property should be reported to the nearest local Council Service Point or by phoning the council on 01349 886606 or by using the 24/7 online forms at www.highland.gov.uk/report.
“If the damage is suspected to be wilful or vandalism it can be reported to Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
Police said the matter had not been reported to them.
