FIRMS have started to come forward to help with the work to repair graves damaged by vandals in Poole at the weekend.

Poole-based Tapper Funeral Service has pledged its support towards the financial cost of repairing the 25 headstones, which, as reported in the Daily Echo, were targeted in the town’s Dorchester Road cemetery.

Steven Tapper, joint managing director of the family-run business, said: “Tapper Funeral Service is happy to help contribute to the financial repair of the memorials that have been damaged in this despicable act of vandalism. Gravestones are an important metaphor representing someone’s life.

“However the damage done here is far greater than the practical and the financial side, it’s the emotional damage as well the families will be going through. Although the memorials can be repaired, it’s the bereavement support they will need over the next coming days and weeks.”

MB Wilkes, an aggregates supplier based near Corfe Mullen, has also said it will help with replacement of materials where it can.

“We will put a donation in and if there’s material or soil that needs replacing people can come up here and get it from us free of charge,” said Dave Fletcher, commercial manager at the firm.

Families were left devastated by the wrecking spree and owner of the cemetery, Borough of Poole, brought in its contractor Excalibur Stone to start repairing the damage.

Among the graves damaged was that of Private H Hosking, a soldier killed during the First World War.

His headstone was snapped in half and left in the mud.

A 23-year-old man from Poole was arrested and released on bail until early February.