VANDALS have been targeting graves in the Wee County.

One resident in Tullibody was left shocked and angered when he realised the name tag from his partner’s memorial had been removed – a discovery he made when he visited with flowers on her birthday.

Peter Clarke’s partner Janice, with whom he had spent 22 years, rests in the town’s cemetery, which he visited at the weekend.

He said: “I went around with a nice bunch of flowers to the grave on Saturday because it was her birthday. I noticed flowers and [pots] were flung over the big fence and Janice’s name tag was taken.”

Peter understood that other graves had been targeted as well and reported the matter to the police, adding: “I’m upset about it and I just feel that it’s not right, it shouldn’t be happening.”

On Monday, he said: “I fixed up what I could fix up, but the [name tag] is gone. I mean, I went over the fence and everything and looked for it and I couldn’t find it. This thing is quite heavy.”

Luckily, an officer investigating the case has since recovered the item, which was about 30 yards into the woods yesterday, with Peter expressing his thanks to the constable.

The local man said the incident happened sometime between Friday, February 17, and Saturday, February 25.

A Police Scotland spokesperson told the Advertiser: “On Monday, February 27 officers in Forth Valley received a report that a flower pole had been stolen from a grave in Tullibody Cemetery.

“Officers attended and the flower pole was recovered nearby. Enquiries into this are currently ongoing and anyone who may be able to help is urged to contact PC Leigh Allen at Alloa Police Station via 101 or report this anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”