St Faiths Crematorium gardening equipment stolen at weekend

Thieves broke into the groundsman’s workshop at St Faith's Crematorium, in Manor Road, and took tools used to maintain the site.

Debbie Leah, spokeswoman for St Faith's Crematorium, said staff will work to minimise the impact on families visiting the cemetery, but it will take time to replace the equipment.

Left to right: Groundsmen Darryn Fox, John Broadbent and John Leech standing outside the workshop (Image: St Faiths Crematorium)

She said: "Between 8pm on Friday July 19 and 6am on Saturday July 20, thieves stole thousands of pounds worth of tools and equipment.

"The equipment, including a ride-on mower, tractor, chainsaws and hedge cutters, are used on a daily basis to maintain the grounds so that families have somewhere respectful and well maintained to remember and pay respects to their loved ones they have lost.

"While our teams will work tirelessly to minimise any impact to our families who come to visit our grounds in the coming weeks, it may take some time to replace the stolen items.

The crematorium said it will work tirelessly to minimise any impact to our families who come to visit (Image: St Faiths Crematorium)

"We have been blown away by our local community and their offers of help and support.

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"If anyone has any information that might help the police in investigating this incident, we are asking them to contact Aylsham Police Station."

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Susan Holland, Lib Dem Broadland district councillor for Spixworth with St Faiths, recently attended a service at the crematorium on July 10, after her husband died in June this year.

Susan Holland, who recently attended a service for her dead husband at the crematorium, said she was appalled at what's happened (Image: Susan Holland)

She condemned the incident, saying: "I'm appalled at what's happened and can't imagine what sort of person would do such a thing.

"They gave a lovely service and I very much appreciate the work they do.

"Their grounds are always immaculate, so it's even more distressing to hear what's happened - I honestly can't believe it.

Police are appealing for information, doorbell or dashcam footage from the area following the incident.

Anyone with information has been asked to contact PC Grint quoting crime reference 36/51365/24.

St Faiths Crematorium in Manor Road (Image: St Faiths Crematorium)