Outrage has been caused after tens of gravestones were found vandalised.

More than 20 gravestones have been found damaged or vandalised at Lavender Hill cemetery, in Cedar Road in the past week leading to calls for a police investigation.

Therese Di Monaco, noticed the damaged headstones and told the Enfield Independent of her shock upon the discovery.

She said: “I was in utter shock when I discovered what happened. So many old gravestones and other tributes have been badly damaged and broken.

“A lot of the new gravestones were not damaged by something must be done to stop this happening again.”

Ms Di Monaco claims she has notified the police and is hoping those who defaced the graves are put to justice.

She added: “People spend a lot of money on leaving something for their loved one and it has been ruined by mindless thugs. This is a serious crime and I hope it is taken seriously by the police and local authority.”

Councillor Daniel Anderson, Enfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for environment condemned the actions and urged anyone who knows anything to come forward.

He said: “This is an appalling crime, involving the desecration of a number of family memorials and headstones.

“We have made all the stones safe, and are contacting the relatives whose graves are affected to make them aware; however we believe many of the damaged stones are extremely old, so there may be difficulties in contacting any surviving family.

“If anyone knows anything about this disgusting vandalism we would urge them to report it to police by calling 101”