Gravestones 'are badly installed'

An investigation into why so many gravestones failed safety tests has blamed poor installation by the original stonemasons.

More than 40% of headstones at St Benedict Bishop in Wombourne, Staffs, failed safety tests in November.

The Diocese of Lichfield said it was considering licensing stonemasons before they are allowed to carry out work in its churchyards.

The churchyard is still shut to new burials while work is carried out.

The report, which was carried out by the diocese, found that there was no reason why South Staffordshire District Council, which has responsibility for the maintenance of the churchyard, should be blamed.

The diocese said it was considering whether to draw up contracts with specially-chosen stonemasons.

Kevin Hartley, chairman of the diocesan advisory committee, said: "Families pay a considerable amount of money for memorial stones and they expect them to last for more than a few years."