VANDALS who left a trail of destruction at a Jewish cemetery in Urmston have been branded as 'sick' by the man who looks after it.

Caretaker Paul Fernandez is beginning the clean-up after mindless thugs smashed 13 headstones at the Chapel Grove resting place on Saturday night.

And he says that they have not only caused thousands of pounds worth of damage but heartache for numerous relatives.

He tells SUM: "I found out about the incident on Saturday night when a neighbour telephoned me to tell me that he had just seen a group of youngsters causing havoc in the cemetery.

"It wasn't until Sunday morning that I saw the full extent of the devastation and it makes me really angry."

Paul says that the clean-up is underway and new fencing is already being considered.

But he adds that he finds it difficult to understand why any cemetery should have to install extra security to deter thugs.

He goes on: "I have been coming to this cemetery for almost 25 years and been caretaker for the past three and this sort of thing just upsets me.

"I know that it happens a lot across Trafford and beyond but it shouldn't do.

"The youngsters who have done this are just sick. I bet they don't even think about the heartache for grieving relatives?"

Chairman of the burial group for the Whitefield Hebrew Congregation, which governs the cemetery, Ashley Hayman, says that the message needs to be put across to the youngsters that they are causing distress beyond their imagination.

He says: "This sort of thing has happened before and despite efforts to improve the security, the vandals just see it as a challenge.

"I don't think there is any malice in the attacks - I just believe that the culprits see it as a victimless crime and don't realise the hurt they inflict on relatives."

Police are appealing for anyone with information about the cemetery vandalism to contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.