SPECIALIST contractors are carrying out routine checks between January and March on the stability of grave headstones in eight closed graveyards maintained by West Devon Borough Council. Working alongside church authorities, the council needs to check that the stones are safe, and will be passing on the results of the inspections to the owners of graves where repairs are needed. The survey work is being carried out following incidents that have occurred in other areas of the country where people have been injured — in some cases, fatally — by unstable gravestones that have toppled over. The West Devon graveyards that are being surveyed are open to the public, but closed for burial purposes. The graveyards are at Holy Trinity Church, Bere Alston; St Andrew's Church, Bere Ferrers; St Paul's Church, Gulworthy; St John the Baptist's Church, Horrabridge; St Mary's Church, Lifton; St Mary's Church, Mary Tavy; All Saints Church, Okehampton and the graveyard's 1928 extension. Cllr James McInnes, leader of West Devon Borough Council, said: 'We hope that the public understands that this very sensitive work is being carried out so that people can visit our graveyards in complete safety.' Those headstones which are found to be unstable will be marked temporarily and recorded. If they are not repaired by the owners after a stated period they may have to be laid down. If a stone is in imminent danger of falling, there will be no option other than to lay it down as soon as it is found. However this will be avoided as far as possible. Owners of graves that are marked during the survey should contact the council to confirm that repairs have been organised or to discuss the next step. If you are affected by the memorial safety inspections or would like further information, contact West Devon Borough Council on 01822 813600, or at http://www.westdevon.gov.uk">www.westdevon.gov.uk