Fundraisers hit £5,000 target for Hebburn cemetery CCTV
A fundraising drive for a CCTV security system after vandals trashed a South Tyneside cemetery has smashed its £5,000 target.
Mark Young was one of a number of people who were left disgusted when yobs desecrated the resting places of loved ones at Hebburn Cemetery.
Families were left heartbroken when they discovered rubbish had been dumped on graves and a number of headstones had been ripped up, last month.
Since then police have stepped up patrols in the area with officers carrying out inquiries in a bid to find those responsible.
Meanwhile, a fundraising drive to pay for CCTV cameras to be installed on the site has beaten it’s initial £5,000 target,
The cash will be put towards the cost of camera equipment with any left over used to help clean up the area.
Mark’s partner John Stewart said: “It is amazing what has been achieved and we still have fundraising events coming up.
“We have been told it will cost about £10,000 for the equipment.
“Any excess money which is not used for CCTV will be used to clean up the cemetery. We are also looking at setting up a Friends of Hebburn Cemetery group.
“The businesses and residents have been fantastic and have all come together to make this possible.”
Mr Stewart added: “We also have to praise the police who have done a lot of work in the area to try and find out who has done this as well as local councillors.”
A number of fundraising events are still to take place include:
A pie and peas supper will take place at the Mill Tavern on March 25. The next day the venue will donate £2 for every two course Mother’s Day meal sold. A TV donated by Co-Op Funeral care will also be up for grabs in a raffle.
On April 2 a dance show will take place at St Aloysius Church Hall. On April 25 an Irish night will be held.
Raffle tickets for a draw taking place on March 31 are available from the Iona Club.
Donations can be made by visiting www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/mark-young-549