Mourners attending funerals at a crematorium are to be stopped from damaging graves with inconsiderate parking.

Damage has been done to graves at the privately-run Loughborough cemetery so often Charnwood Borough Council has installed bollards.

It said problems were occurring on an almost daily basis, distressing relatives and angering cemetery staff.

Incidents have included damage to war graves.

The council's senior green spaces officer, Mark Graham, said: "It is deeply distressing to relatives to see the graves of their loved ones disturbed by people parking on them.

"The bollards, which can be lowered by staff, have been erected at the Ling Road end to prevent the roads being used by people attending funerals at the crematorium."

He said the bollards would be lowered for funerals in the cemetery, when staff would ensure graves were not damaged by parked cars.

Councillor Hilary Fryer, cabinet spokeswoman, said: "In the past, we have advised motorists that they can only park in designated areas.

"But this notice has been ignored and we are now faced with a situation where people are disrespecting graves by parking on them.

"It is unacceptable and we have taken action to prevent it.

"We have a dedicated team of workers who take great pride in looking after our cemetery, ensuring it is a place of beauty and calm for people to visit and remember their loved ones. We want it to stay that way."

The council said it has spent £7,500 repairing damage and trying to manage traffic at the cemetery since May.

A spokesman for funeral director G A Gamble & Sons (Quorn) Ltd said: "It is a pressing problem because there is not enough parking at the crematorium, particularly if there are two large funerals one after the other.

"Motorists attending funerals at the crematorium have no other real options as there are parking restrictions in Leicester Road and Epinal Way.

"People who may have been delayed do tend to park where they can."

The crematorium is operated by Dignity Funerals. Spokesman Stuart Cox said: "We cannot expand the car park because it would encroach on to our gardens of remembrance, where cremated remains have been scattered or interred.

"We appreciate some funerals attract a large number of mourners and we try to accommodate as many people as possible.

"We would ask all visitors to respect the crematorium grounds and the cemetery so that we can prevent this problem in future."

He said the company was hoping to meet the council to discuss parking.