POLICE are investigating after a stolen car was crashed in an Inverclyde graveyard then set on fire.

Three headstones have been damaged at Gourock Cemetery following the incident, which happened overnight Thursday into Friday.

It is understood the vehicle was stolen, driven into the Larkfield Road burial ground and then abandoned before being torched.

Inverclyde Council, which is responsible for the cemetery, says repairs will be carried out to repair the three headstones and damage to the grounds.

A council spokesman said: “This is an appalling incident.

“Our team at the cemetery will of course fix the damage to the area at the graves but the simple truth is that they shouldn’t have to do that.

“These are the resting places of friends and family of people from our community.

“No one should be causing any kind of damage in cemeteries.

“If anyone has any information which could assist the police, we would urge you to speak up.

“And to the person or people who did this, we would urge you to come forward and make amends for the damage you have caused.

“When you find that you’ve caused damage to the graves of someone’s loved ones, that might be the time to take a good hard look at yourself and what you are doing with your life.”

Contact police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.