Louts who desecrated a graveyard have been branded “an absolute disgrace”.
Vandals targeted the Kirkholm cemetery on Monday and Tuesday by trashing floral tributes and damaging ornaments placed beside headstones.
The incidents have left the local community “disgusted”.
Mid and Upper Nithsdale councillor Jim Dempster said: “It’s an absolute disgrace.
“These are people’s burial grounds it doesn’t matter at all what the reason might be to do something like this it’s just absolutely wrong.”
The council’s land and street services team attended the cemetery and tried their best to reunite ornamental items with the right
graves.
Mr Dempster added: “The team, including service manager Ian Johnson, met some disgusted family members at the cemetery and tidied up as best they could and make it look respectable.
“It’s a shame we’ve got to do something like this but the guys have done the best they could to identify items and put them in the right place.
“I went up to see what the damage was and there were floral tributes scattered about the place and ornaments and personal items thrown around and some of them damaged too.
“It’s horrendous and an awful thing to do.”
Police are also investigating more damage which occurred the very next day in the same cemetery.
Councillor Dempster said: “I hope the community comes together to identify the perpetrators.
“The community has already come together to make sure the graves are alright.
“The cemetery is quite new but there have been recent interments so this will hurt people.
“I hope the police are doing all they can to prevent this happening
again.”
Police have asked anyone with information to come forward by contacting them on 101 or at Sanquhar police station.
A spokesperson said: “The incidents in question occurred between 3.45pm and 6pm on Monday October 25 and between 2pm and 6.50pm on Tuesday October 26.
“Alternatively ask to speak to any officer at Sanquhar Police Station.”
