Crime team tackles grave attack boys

Familes were devastated by the attack

Two boys who wrecked 150 child graves will be made to understand the seriousness of their crime, their local council has announced.

The boys have admitted smashing toys and other tributes left at South Bristol Crematorium and Cemetery last Saturday.

But they are both under 10, and too young be prosecuted.

Bristol's youth offending team has agreed a series of measures with the boys' parents to ensure there is no repeat of the behaviour.

Monuments were broken

The team is run by the city council, police, probation service and other organisations.

Bristol City Council leader Diane Bunyan said: "Relatives whose children's memorials were damaged in this attack will want to be reassured by all the agencies in the city that appropriate action will be taken in relation to these young boys."

Parents' apology

She said the council's social services department was providing counselling and support for families affected by the vandalism.

The boys admitted the offences after their families recognised them from CCTV video released by the police.

Their parents issued an apology to families whose children's graves were damaged.

Some of the graves belonged to babies who died in a series of heart operations at the Bristol Royal Infirmary in the 1980s and 1990s.