A local resident was very distressed to discover that the headstone on a family member’s grave at St Mary's Churchyard had been damaged this week. An attempt had been made to remove lead which is used to finish lettering after it has been incised by a stone mason.

West Mercia Police has been notified of the damage caused to the headstone on a grave at St Mary’s Church, Ross-on-Wye.

The family is extremely distressed, one family member told the Ross Gazette: "It was heartbreaking," and as the damage is ’quite extensive’ they are concerned that it will cost a lot of money to repair.

Officers from the local Safer Neighbourhood Team are aware of the incident and ask anyone who may have seen suspicious behaviour in the graveyard over the last month to contact them on 101, quoting incident number 301s of 21 September.

Police also ask anyone who becomes aware of any similar incidents or finds damage to headstones to contact them.