STAFF at Burnley Council's parks department have launched an investigation into how several gravestones in a Padiham churchyard came to be vandalised.

A number of headstones in the cemetery at St Leonard's Church, which is maintained by the council on behalf of the church, have been pushed over and broken.

The vicar, the Rev Mark Jones, said it was 'a regrettable incident' but said the council had promised him that the stones would be replaced as soon as possible.

He said: "The council has done a survey of the damage and it is carrying out an investigation into what happened and keeping me informed.

"It's just a bit of a mystery how it happened. I was told about it by someone from the council and it happened during the day. I don't think they are headstones belonging to recent graves. They are quite old and probably don't have living relatives."

Simon Goff, the council's park services manager, said: "It has been brought to the council's attention that a number of headstones in St Leonard's churchyard have been laid down and several have been broken.

"The council's park services unit maintains the cemetery on behalf of the church and there has been some suggestion that the incidents may have occurred during a council inspection.

"The council is taking the matter seriously and is conducting an investigation to find out what has happened and is liaising with the vicar of St Leonard's.

"We are aware that this situation may have cause distress to the families concerned and would assure them that if any headstones have been laid down or damaged by council employees will be reinstated."