Probe into grave topple testing

The Church of England has launched its own investigation into the high number of gravestones failing the test. The move comes after almost half of gravestones at St Benedict Biscop Church in Wombourne failed the tests, with relatives told to pay up to £400 to have them made safe within two years or they will be laid flat.

South Staffordshire District Council workers are using hand-held equipment and national guidelines to test headstones to see if they topple over under 35kg of pressure.

The council claimed more than 40 per cent of head stones in Wombourne failed the tests and temporarily secured them with wooden stakes, distressing families.

Today the Archdeacon of Lichfield, the Venerable Chris Liley, said the Church of England shared the concern of local residents. He said: "The safety testing of gravestones is designed to ensure public safety but we know it can cause anxiety.

"We were very concerned to discover the extremely high failure rate at Wombourne and want to understand what has caused it.

"One of the outcomes we hope will come from our investigation will be to discover what lessons we can learn to prevent more families facing this distress."

The testing of memorial stones at Wombourne is part of a nationwide review of all gravestones taking place in churchyards and local authority cemeteries. Residents fear the work is heavy-handed. The review by the Lichfield Diocese has been welcomed by the Rev Paul Brown, Rector of the Smestow Vale Team, which includes Wombourne.

He said: "The church at Wombourne is part of the community and we are as concerned as locals about the high failure rate."

Steve Winterflood, deputy chief executive of South Staffordshire Council, maintains the work is being done with "dignity and respect". Next year Wolverhampton City Council is due to commence its own tests.