Vandals have been "helping" with the re- roofing of the Ledbury cemetery chapel by taking off tiles and hurling them to the ground.

Major work started last week on the chapel complex, with the town council spending £41,000 on the main chapel, to cover re-roofing, pointing and other structural repairs.

Much of the complex is covered by scaffolding and areas have been cordoned off for safety reasons.

The town council will also spend £2,250 on repairs to the bell dome, including the rehanging of the bell.

More funds, as yet unspecified, will have to be found for tower repairs.

The vandal attack centred on the attached mortuary building, when someone took a ladder from the grounds of Ledbury Football Club, climbed up and began to throw tiles to the ground.

The damage was spotted by Hawcutt's funeral directors, which uses the mortuary. It called in workmen to handle immediate repairs.

The bill for will go to Ledbury Town Council and the matter was discussed at last week's council meeting in the Market House.

Coun Martin Eager said: "I suggest we write a letter to the football club and ask for a donation towards the costs. The club must accept some responsibility for the problem, because their ladder was used."