Vandals have caused more than £20,000 of damage at a crematorium in Brighton.

Intruders smashed the door of the memorial office, damaged leaded windows and trashed computer equipment at Downs Crematorium in Bear Road.

Records were scattered over the floor and coffee was thrown around the room. Gas canisters used to ignite the cremators were wrecked and a fire extinguisher was thrown out of a window.

About 20 lights were kicked over along the driveway and a van used by staff was smashed up.

Eight funerals due to take place today will not be directly affected by the damage.

Police are still investigating and crematorium workers say this is causing extra distress for mourners.

Manager Nigel Emberson said: "I feel incredibly frustrated. We have had incidents of vandalism before, but nothing on this scale.

"I cannot understand what people get out of doing this at a place of rest. How can they stoop so low, knowing they are going to cause a lot of distress to so many other people? They did not even try to steal anything - they just smashed everything up."

Undertaker Teresa Baker attended a funeral at the crematorium just after 11am today.

She said staff had worked hard to make sure the bereaved did not see the damage.

She said: "What kind of a person would do something like that? It's awful."

The raiders struck between 5pm yesterday and 7am today. Police are appealing for witnesses.

A police spokeswoman said: "Our officers were appalled when they arrived.

"To commit damage like this in a place of peace shows these offenders have a complete lack of respect."