Soldier's grave vandalised

No motive has been established for the vandalism

The grave of a Stoke-on-Trent soldier killed in World War I is one of 45 that has been damaged by vandals in a French cemetery.

Gravestones of British, Canadian and New Zealand soldiers were found to have been kicked over at the St Aubert cemetery, near Cambrai, on Monday.

Gunner Harry Steele, 20, was killed on 20 October, 1918 and buried, along with more than 400 others, at the cemetery.

Authorities in France said they believed the destruction was motiveless.

Book burned

The St Aubert cemetery contains the graves of 435 Commonwealth soldiers killed in battle between 1917 and 1918.

The vandals also burned the visitors book at the entrance to the cemetery.

A St Aubert police spokesman said: "We do not believe the vandals were motivated by any religious, racial or nationalistic feeling.

"It could have been done by a single person or a group. An investigation has been launched but we do not have any leads as yet."