"Disrespectful" partiers have trampled flowers and left beer cans strewn across a churchyard where hundreds of people are laid to rest.

The damage was done at a "very sacred" garden of remembrance at All Saints Church in Whitstable, by people who apparently flouted lockdown rules by gathering there on Saturday night.

The church's vicar, Rev Simon Tillotson is now appealing to those responsible, urging them not to meet there again.

"You are standing on grass under which are the ashes of hundreds of people who have been laid to rest," he said.

"You stamped on the daffodils that had made that garden look so beautiful.

"You left beer cans and bottles which a very kind member of the public cleared up."

Rev Tillotson says a bicycle with a broken pedal was also abandoned at the site in Church Street.

"You were also clearly breaching Covid-19 guidelines," he continued.

"I am assuming you did not realise that that is a very sacred area and I am appealing to you not to use our churchyard again as a place for partying.

"It is very disrespectful to those who have died and to their relatives who still mourn their loss. Would you like it if this happened at your relatives' graves?"

Rev Tillotson says he intends to contact the police about the incident.

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