A BEREAVED mother is calling for CCTV surveillance at a city graveyard after vandals targeted headstones.

Kim Jeffrey said the measure was needed after the headstone of her son, Michael Betteridge, in Hollybrook Cemetery was one of four that was pushed over.

The 56-year-old from Northam said that following the act she cannot bear to visit the cemetery.

She said: “It upsets me too much and I don’t want to go.

“I am really hurt to think someone has done that to his grave.”

Michael, described as “kind and thoughtful”, died two years ago aged just 35 after battling liver disease.

His headstone was only put up last year, but now Kim says she cannot afford to pay to repair the damage because she suffers from crippling arthritis and is unable to work.

She said: “It will take a long time to save up. It is just disgusting that this has happened and I feel really sorry for the other people who have suffered as well.

I think there should now be surveillance cameras to prevent this from happening to anyone else.”

Four headstones were vandalised.

Police believe they were randomly targeted, possibly by someone making their way through the graveyard at night.

One of the headstones had been erected in recent weeks.

A police spokesman said: “Clearly incidents like this bring very strong emotions to relatives who are affected so police would like to renew their appeal for anyone who may know who has done this to come forward.”

Anyone with information about the damage discovered on January 22 can call PCSO Tracey Cullen at the Shirley Safer Neighbourhood Team on 101.