CONCERNS have been expressed that vandalism is weakening Ludlow’s town walls.

The collapsed section of Ludlow’s town wall behind St Laurence’s Church has been vandalised, further threatening the stability of the graveyard and wall.

Safety fences in the Garden of Rest have been damaged and some sections laid to the ground. Sandbags and sheeting have been thrown down from the churchyard into the Compasses back yard exposing sections of the graveyard.

“This is the last thing that we need,” said Andy Boddington, Shropshire Councillor for Ludlow North.

“There has been some minor vandalism to the fencing during the few months but it looks like there was a determined assault on it in the last few days.

“The sheeting that covers parts of the collapsed wall and the sandbags that support it have been thrown down into the courtyard of the Compasses.

“What worries me most is that the exposed section of the churchyard is rocky rubble that looks in imminent danger of collapse as the weather worsens. The collapses might not be big at first, but water has a unique way of undermining structures.

"If we don’t take urgent action we could lose substantial sections of the churchyard, undermining the trees.

“Shropshire Council inspects the collapsed wall regularly. But inspections will not stop the graveyard and further sections of the wall collapsing.”