Gravestones were knocked over and damaged in another attack by vandals at a cemetery.

Staff at Durrington Cemetery in Worthing believe 22 gravestones have been pushed over and others damaged but could not be exact as dozens had been knocked down in an attack 18 months ago. That was the biggest outbreak of vandalism in the cemetery since an attack three years ago.

The cemetery has an arrangement with funeral directors who stand up a couple of stones each time they visit.

Now, the graves in the older section of the cemetery may be out of bounds in the evening as those in charge step up security.

Cemetery registrar Ian Rudkin said: "Their mentality is sick. It should be the safest place you can go to. I cannot understand what enjoyment anybody gets from doing it.

"We've introduced extra security and certain gates are locked but we may have a look at plans to completely lock up at night. We are working with the police."

The cemetery had covert surveillance in place on Friday night and a company which culls rabbits at the site confirmed there were no visitors that night.

Cemetery staff believe the vandalism took place on Saturday night.

PC Gavin Whitehouse said: "This mindless vandalism has caused distress. We are robustly investigating this and urge anyone with information to come forward."

The graves most effected lie in sections 21, 22 and 24 of the cemetary. Anyone concerned should call the crematorium on 01903 872678.

Last September, several teenagers were arrested for spraying graffiti on gravestones and walls at Chichester Crematorium in July 2005.

The Argus reported last August that gravestones, doors and walls at St John's Church in Park Road, Burgess Hill had been covered with the graffiti tag CE004.

Anyone who can help police investigating the vandalism at Durrington Cemetery should contact police on 0845 60 70 999 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

The Durrington attack comes two months after families were told, via impersonal notes left on relatives' graves, to remove treasured memorials from Downs Crematorium and Brighton and Preston Cemetery because they were not up to standard.