A DRYBOOK man is angry after his father's grave headstone at Drybrook Holy Trinity churchyard was laid flat because it was reckoned to be in danger of falling over.

Martin Burge says the Parochial Church Council operatives who carried out the exercise actually left marks which seem,ed to show it had been levered out of place.

"They also left alone headstones which have been leaning over for many, many years – some are at an angle of 45 degrees or more," he said.

"I'm not the only one who is unhappy about the situation – especially as resetting has to be carried out at the expense of the families concerned. It can cost from £75 to £100 and there are some people who just do not have this sort of money to spare.

"When my nine year-old son saw his grandfather's headstone on the ground he burst out crying."

A spokesman for the Diocese of Gloucester said: "Drybrook Parochial Church Council (PCC) has a duty to keep its churchyard safe for visitors. The Diocese of Gloucester recommends that a 'topple-test' to check the stability of headstones be carried out at least once a year.

"Following an incident earlier this year when a headstone fell on a five year-old child, the PCC advertised that a topple test was to take place. A number of headstones were laid down on health and safety grounds.

"In assessing stability, the recommended test is that the memorial should be sufficiently secure that it would not topple over if someone held onto it to help themselves up, if they had knelt down to tend the grave. Levers are not used in this process.

"Church representatives will be contacting a stone mason to try to secure the best price for the necessary repairs."