VANDALS have been condemned for pulling out the headstone of a soldier's grave in a village cemetery.

The attack on the grave of an unknown soldier buried at All Saints' Church, Langley Park, is the latest in a recent spate of incidents of vandalism in the churchyard.

Members of the Langley Park branch of the Royal British Legion Women's Section, who put flowers on the grave and lay wreaths on Remembrance Day, are appalled by what has happened and are calling for the culprits to be reported to the police.

Esther Hayton, the secretary of the branch, said: "The headstone has been completely pulled out and thrown over the grave.

"Many graves have been badly damaged and headstones broken and flowers thrown all over.

"This soldier gave his life so we might live - even scum. If one of these had been hurt there would have been such a hue and cry.

"Someone must know who they are. It is their duty to name and shame them.

"Langley Park branch of the Royal British Legion Women's Section is disgusted to think these people are in our community."

She added: "The grave has been there all these years and nothing like this has happened before. Sometimes you see children playing in the churchyard - but these headstones are jolly heavy to lift or move."