WORK gets under way this week on a safety exercise in Middlesbrough's cemeteries.

The council is doing a survey on all headstones and the work will start in Linthorpe cemetery, where there are an estimated 4,000 tombstones.

"This is an essential piece of work to ensure we deal with health and safety responsibilities and identify any headstones which might be dangerous," said bereavement services officer Peter Gitsham.

"If there is a problem with a headstone we will have to lay it flat and we'll place a notice on it telling the owner what we have done and how to make it safe."

Where possible the council will contact the owners but Mr Gitsham stressed that might not be possible in all cases where people have moved and not left forwarding addresses.

He said: "We have to stress that work to put the headstones right has to be done by a qualified stonemason.

"People should not attempt to do it themselves.

"It is dangerous for them and anyone walking through the cemetery."

After the team are finished at Linthorpe they will move on to cemeteries in Thorntree and Acklam.