An angry vicar has appealed to people to inform on callous vandals who ransacked a graveyard.

Vandals left about 40 gravestones overturned or broken at St Edwards Church, off Royal George Road in Burgess Hill. Some memorials had only been in place a few weeks.

The attack, the worst so far on the churchyard, also left heavy stone crosses broken.

The Reverend Tim Peskett said: "We hope if anyone knows the people concerned they will contact the police.

"I can only sympathise with the relatives of the people whose graves have been desecrated in this way. It is distressing enough to cope with bereavement let alone seeing the graves of their loved ones vandalised.

"We have had the odd one or two damaged in the past but never anything on this scale. I think it is sacrilege and desecration."

Some relatives may only find out about the damage when they visit the churchyard.

Mr Peskett said: "It is going to be very difficult, if not impossible, to notify all the families involved because some of the graves are fairly old. The publicity may help us on this."

The attack took place on Tuesday night and has sickened people working in the church. Church members inspected the damage yesterday.

Churchwarden Alan Rhodes said: "It is disgusting. There are much stronger words I would like to use but they are not printable."

Church secretary Doug Myers said: "I think the people who did this are sick.

"They must be weird people to go out and do this sort of thing."

Anyone with information should contact PC Chris Finch on 0845 6070999.