GRIEVING relatives have spoken of their distress after a herd of cows escaped into a cemetery and trampled over dozens of graves.

The animals left a trail of destruction at the graveyard in West Auckland, County Durham, after they walked through an unlocked gate in an adjoining field, between Monday night and Tuesday morning.

People visiting their loved ones’ graves on Tuesday afternoon were dismayed to find damaged headstones, broken graveside ornaments and vases, and trample marks – some of which were several inches deep – across many graves.

Floral tributes were chewed and strewn around the graves, and some headstones were covered in cow faeces and mud.

Michelle Jackson, from St Helen Auckland, visits the grave of her daughter, Chantelle Louise Cliff, daily, and had just marked the fourth anniversary of the 14- year-old’s death on June 12.

Mrs Jackson, who spent Tuesday afternoon tidying the graveside, said: “This is so distressing.

It is awful knowing that they have been on my little girl’s grave.”

Mrs Jackson’s mother, Olive Cliff, whose son, Andrew, 36, is buried next to Chantelle’s grave, said Durham County Council, which owns the cemetery, should compensate all those affected.

She said: “This a place of rest.

“We have paid for our children to be buried here in peace. If a group of youths had done this they would be in so much trouble.”

County council officials cleaned and tidied the cemetery yesterday, and built a new fence to prevent further problems.

Spokesman Oliver Sheratt said: “We offer our sympathies to the relatives following what is a very distressing incident for them, and share their concerns that this should not happen again. We are currently assessing any damage caused to the gravestones and the cost of rectifying it.”

Farmer John Jimminson, from East Oakley House, who owns the cows, said: “The gate was wired up, but it had been cut. It has happened before in some of my other fields, and is an ongoing problem.

“I can only say how sorry I am.

I have relatives buried in the graveyard too, so I do not want the cows in there either.”