"Mindless vandals" have smashed "priceless" stained glass windows at Foster Hill Road Cemetery chapel.

Cemetery staff believe the offenders used long lumps of wood, which were later found nearby, to smash around 20 windows in the chapel.
The attack took place at around 8.30pm last Thursday.

Michael Day, registrar for Bedford Bereavement Care, which maintains the cemetery, said: "It's unbelievable, utterly pointless.

"We are lucky the two main stained glass windows are protected by perspex and some of the others have been pushed in and can hopefully be put back, but as for the rest of the glass, every single pane has been smashed.

"The worst part is it upsets people who visit family graves in the cemetery. There is just no reason at all for this, it defies belief.
"We cannot secure the cemetery to the extent of barbed wire and CCTV, it's a public space."

The stained glass windows have been a prominent feature of the chapel since it was opened in 1855.

Mike Wood, who visited the cemetery on Friday, said: "What is the point, it's nothing other than mindless vandalism.

"That they did it at a cemetery chapel is shocking."

The chapel roof has been targeted by lead thieves four times recently and work to replace the metal is ongoing.

Richard Osborne, of DSD Contracting, which carries out maintenance work on behalf of Bedford Borough Council, was part of the team boarding up the broken windows on Friday.

He said: "It's mindless vandalism. They've just gone round with lumps of wood smashing all the windows, most of which were stained glass.

"It was a right mess inside, broken glass all over the place. Some of those windows are so old they could be priceless. I imagine it will cost thousands of pounds to put right."

A Borough Council spokesperson said:

"The Land and Property Estates Team are currently seeking professional advice from consultants as to whether the stain glass windows can be repaired or not, a decision will then be taken."

Anyone with information can contact Bedfordshire Police, in confidence, on 01234 841212. Alternatively call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 111 555.