COUNCIL officials have refused to install CCTV cameras at a graveyard despite more than 6,000 people signing an online petition calling for improved security.

The mother of a child whose headstone was stolen from the cemetery at Darlington described the decision as disgusting.

The appeal was backed by a local businessman, who offered to donate £30,000-worth of equipment, but Darlington Borough Council says it would be pointless to install it.

The site has been vandalised and subject to a series of thefts over the past year.

In February, thieves took the memorial from James David Stott’s grave, in West Cemetery. The 18-month-old died in 2007 from meningitis.

After the story appeared in The Northern Echo, a page was set up on the networking website Facebook calling for more to be done to stop the thieves. The group now has 6,214 members, and is attracting more support every day.

James David’s mother, Wendy Braybrook, 28, said: “We have got so many supporters, I was amazed at the number of people who joined.

“People from all over the world have added to it.

“I cannot see why these council officials will not do more about security at the graveyard. If headstones were being stolen from their relatives’ graves, I am sure they would want more security there.”

An anonymous donor offered to supply the security equipment, but council officials say that the devices would not pick up a signal because of the number of trees at the site.

Mrs Braybrook said: “I was really pleased when I found out about the donation, and I brought it to the attention of the council. I told them that someone had offered to give us the system as long as the council fitted it and maintained it, but the council still said no.

“The reason they gave was that the trees at the cemetery were too tall, and the reception would not work. I think it is disgusting. Something needs to be done to stop this.

It is not good enough.”

A council spokesman said: “Though incidents of vandalism in West Cemetery are distressing, they are extremely rare.

“The cemetery is patrolled by police officers and council wardens, which helps to deter vandals.

“We would only consider installing CCTV in areas where there was a high level of antisocial behaviour or vandalism, and this is not the case in West Cemetery.”