Terry's furious about broken headstones... (From Warrington Guardian)

Terry's furious about broken headstones...

AN angry Star reader has called on all those who are being charged to have their loved ones' headstones repaired, to unite and seek legal advice to fight the decision.

Terry Callaghan, 73, from Surrey Street in Parr, lays the blame on the council, whom he claims are: "making money out of the dead."

He said that digging equipment is breaking the seal between the base and the headstone and claims this is tantamount to vandalism. He believes mourning relatives should not be the ones who are made to pay.

"It is a disgrace. If someone is being buried at the side of your grave and the diggers disturb the headstone, new or old, the owner of the disturbed headstone has to pay to have it replaced, not the cemetery."

"I've been going there since my dad died in 1945 and my mum died in the sixties. But this gravestone is only two years old. It should not need repairing."

He also drew attention to the appalling state of the paths around the headstones and received a reply from St Helens Council, which says that they have had a Building Inspectors report highlighting areas for improvement.

"We are in a 'no win' situation until we fight against this money from the dead scandal. It is no use individuals complaining, we should all moan together," he concluded.