I wish to voice my utter disgust at the way Lewes District Council has conducted itself with regard to Seaford cemetery.

The reason given on a small plastic card for toppling the headstones was: "These headstones have been placed down for health and safety reasons."

A letter from the council would have been appreciated.

My father spoke to the stonemason who erected my mother's stone, a man with 30 years' experience.

He was shocked but gave us some useful information. The ram-gun pressure test should only be carried out on gravestones greater than three metres in height.

My mother's is less than one metre. The council did not do its homework and failed to speak to the church or stonemason.

I later spoke to a very unhelpful council official, who apologised in a roundabout sort of way and informed me it would have taken too long to try to contact all the families concerned, it was not the responsibility of the council to replace the stones and that he would be sending out letters in the near future - a bit late now the damage has been done.

I can accept some of the older stones may be a danger to children but I hardly believe small, lightweight stones just over a year old to be a health and safety issue.

When I was at the cemetery, I met an elderly lady in tears. She assumed there had been vandals.

We reassured her and told her it was the council. This is a thoughtless act of vandalism by people who are meant to be in a position of trust, managing people's interests.

Why were relatives not informed by letter the tests were to be carried out? Why were the church and stonemasons not involved in the planning procedure?

Is the council going to rectify the damage caused and replace the headstones? Why were headstones less than three metres pushed over?

My mother's headstone was erected in April 2000. My family is deeply distressed by the actions of the council and hopes readers who have had a family member's stone disturbed will voice their opinions.

I have also been in touch with the office of Norman Baker MP and hope he will take up this case. What gives anyone the right to treat a burial ground in such a callous way?

-W V Howick, Silksworth, Tyne and Wear