THE MOTHER of a young soldier killed in a road accident in Christchurch is campaigning for better security at the town's main cemetery where his grave was desecrated by vandals.

Debbie Ormston plans to hand in a 1,300-name petition to Christchurch council at its meeting on Tuesday calling for closed circuit television cameras to deter vandalism - and help catch the culprits.

Mrs Ormston raised the petition after finding late night yobs had attacked the lovingly-tended grave of her son Lee, who was buried with full military honours and headstone following his death on New Year's Eve 2004.

A private soldier in the Royal Logistic Corps, Lee, 22, whose family home is at Somerford, died after his motorcycle was in a collision with a car at the Barrack Road/Stour Road traffic lights.

Since his death Mrs Ormston, family members and friends regularly visit the municipal cemetery off Jumpers Road to tend Lee's grave which has been decorated with flowers, photos, ornaments and a facsimile football pitch reflecting his favourite sport.

But Mrs Ormston was devastated to discover vandals had attacked the grave, kicking divots out of the turf, overturning pots and uprooting plants, ripping out and breaking a candle holder and defacing the headstone by spraying it with a sticky substance.

"It was just a complete mess. You can't imagine how I felt.

"I was absolutely distraught and beside myself," said Mrs Ormston.

She believes her son's grave caught the attention of the yobs that night because it stood out from others in the new Jumpers Common extension to the cemetery - close to a children's playground used as a late-night haunt by youths.

Mrs Ormston, who canvassed signatures for her petition among cemetery visitors and at locations around the borough, said: "I know I am not the only one that has had this problem.

"Everyone has been so kind in signing. Let's hope something can be done."