Angus graveyard visitors told not to leave alcohol

A council has asked cemetery visitors not to leave alcoholic drinks as memorials on gravestones after reports of children removing the bottles and drinking from them.

Incidents had been reported in several cemeteries in Angus, while cans and bottles had been left at graves in almost all of its graveyards.

The authority said in one case a member of the public witnessed children opening alcoholic drinks at a grave site and drinking them.

It added that the consumption of alcohol in cemeteries, which are designated as public spaces, was not allowed.

An Angus Council spokesperson said: “We all like to remember and pay tribute to our loved ones who have passed, in different ways.

“Please remember your loved ones and visit their graves by all means, but please do not leave alcoholic drinks where youngsters can get access to them.

“Our staff will regularly remove alcoholic drinks and store them for collection again, however we have no staff working over a weekend, when these incidents occurred.”