A WORCESTER cemetery has been forced to put up concrete posts in a bid to stop visitors driving over sacred burial ground.

Staff at Astwood Cemetery have spent £1,000 on bollards to try and prevent drivers churning up turf just yards from headstones and grave sites.

But thoughtless motorists have even driven round the obstacles since they were built two months ago.

The 40-acre cemetery, which houses the city's crematorium and more than 70,000 headstones and 40,000 graves, is at a loss to stop the damage.

"I think it's pretty thoughtless," said manager David Seaman. "You get the feeling that if people could have it, they'd want a motorway through here to drive their cars."

Mr Seaman said staff spotted cars churning up verges near graves and performing three-point turns near burial ground on an almost daily basis.

Tyre marks can be seen where vehicles have been driven through burial ground, while narrow footpaths have also been used for access.

Leaflets and a board at the entrance clearly show marked routes for vehicle access and limited access where only disabled and service motorists are allowed.

Mr Seaman said the problem was at its worst at the weekends, when there were fewer groundsmen to ward motorists off.

Car parking was not an issue as there were at least 70 spaces, with extra places to park when the crematorium was not in use at weekends.

"There are certain types of people who want to go shopping at the supermarket, dash down to tend a grave and be off as quickly as they can," he said.

"We obviously don't want to stop people getting to the very thing we're here to provide, but they're really spoiling it for others.

"I've had to spend £1,000, which is money I would much rather spend on other facilities".