A burial ground for nuns is being turned back into woodland after vandalised damaged headstones and littered the site.

Owners were horrified at the attack on headstones and the surrounding wall.

The cemetery, off Bolnore Road, Haywards Heath, was also strewn with condoms and used hypodermic needles.

Now the headstones are being removed and the cemetery will be left to grow over naturally.

The convent, built in the late 19th Century, has already been sold and turned into flats.

Ian Vaughan, who acted as chartered surveyor for the Church of England Order of the Holy Cross, which still owns the cemetery, said: "The burial ground is down the bottom of Reading Wood.

"When the nuns left we had a brick wall put round the rest of it to protect it but in recent times we have had vandalism of the wall and needles and condoms have been left.

"When the land was sold recently I asked them what they wanted to do about this and it was their idea. They suggested turning it back to woodland so no one would go there."

He added: "We have made a plan and know where everyone is buried."

But one neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said: "It was a beautiful cemetery with a walled garden and it has just been broken up.

"It is all in a pile by the road. There is quite a bit of history being destroyed there."

Richard Walker, director of planning at Mid Sussex District Council, said: "It seems the owners of the land did not want it to remain as there was with no one about to tend it.

"With the prospect of further residential development in the fullness of time, they gave instructions for it to be done.

"They would sooner anyone buried under there lies peacefully and it not be used as an unofficial play area."