IT should be a final resting place for Swindon's heroes who gave their lives for their country - instead Radnor Street Cemetery is a haven for vandals.

Crosses have been pushed to the ground and statues desecrated, and the graves are strewn with litter.

But one of the town's historians says the only way to stop the wanton destruction is to educate the Swindon public, particularly youngsters.

Mark Sutton, who has written books about the soldiers buried in the cemetery, says the town's schools should be playing an active part in teaching children about Swindon founding fathers.

"It's such a shame, there's so much history here, and it's not being respected," said Mark, of Drove Road.

"This cemetery is home to ex-mayors, the people who built the Great Western Railway, great footballers of their day, not to mention the war graves.

"Because it is neglected, people think it's okay for it to get more neglected.

"You have kids, and not just kids, getting in here and wrecking the place.

"I think some of the people doing this just don't realise the history behind the stones.

"I remember going up there last year and seeing three men sitting on the war memorial, drinking beer, surrounded by rubbish.

"I went up to them and told them all about the memorial and, to their credit, they tidied the bottles away.

"It's not a problem if people sit there as long as they appreciate it."

Eighty-six soldiers from the First World War and 14 from the 1939-1945 conflict are buried in Radnor Street.

One of the damaged graves belongs to sapper Walter Hughes, of the Royal Engineers, who died while fighting with the 21st Division in 1916.

His marker has been pulled from the plot he shared with his younger brother, also a soldier, who died two years later.

The Commonwealth Graves Commission cares for the graves of ex-servicemen, but cannot mend memorials attached to the official headstones or tend to the hundreds of non-military graves.

Peter Francis from the commission said: "Vandalism of any cemetery is deplorable.

"This cemetery, and ones just like it, are not just resting places for the dead, they also have great potential for learning."

Mark agrees, and thinks local schools should do more to encourage young people to respect the cemetery. "I definitely think schools need to be going there," he said. "There's so much history there and all you need to do is look around."