Young offenders may be drafted in to tidy up a vandal-plagued cemetery.

The scheme is being considered by Worthing Borough Council after the town's ex-servicemen tabled the idea.

Retired major Tom Wye, 58, of Ashacre Lane, was horrified at the state of Broadwater Cemetery in South Farm Road.

More than 35 per cent of the memorials at Broadwater have been smashed.

Mr Wye, who has a sister and daughter buried there, said urgent action was needed to stop the site from deteriorating further.

He said: "It has been so badly vandalised and I think it is a disgrace it has been allowed to get into this state. There is so much history and interest there."

Mr Wye, chairman of the town's Combined Ex-Servicemen's Association, said talks were being held between the Probation Service and the council with a view to employing ten young offenders on community service at the cemetery.

He had counted 49 war graves and there were plans for old soldiers to adopt the plots and keep them tidy.

Mr Wye added: "I personally would like to see all the war graves ultimately adopted by local children, which happens in Holland."

He also wants the cemetery's paths reinstated and information boards installed.

Mr Wye said the council was in favour of a spruce-up and there would be a further meeting on January 24.

Stig Andersson, assistant registrar of cemeteries, said tourists from across the world flocked to the cemetery to view the memorials to naturalists William Hudson and Richard Jefferies.

Both graves have been smashed by vandals.

Mr Andersson said insurance cover for the public had to be assessed before work could get under way because the council could be liable if anyone was injured.