Two boys have admitted vandalising 150 child graves in Bristol, but because they are under the age of 10 they cannot be prosecuted by police.

The two smashed ornaments and mementoes on graves in the baby section of South Bristol Crematorium and Cemetery on Saturday.

A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police said the two had admitted the offences to officers and that no further action could be taken because of the children's age.

The parents of the two have issued an apology to families of the babies whose graves were damaged in the attack.

The grave of Alishia Jacobs was damaged

The police spokesman said: "Two children both aged under 10 have been interviewed in connection with the vandalism at South Bristol Crematorium over the weekend.

"They were spoken to by officers and made a full and frank admission to carrying out the damage to the graves.

"The parents of the two children are devastated by the news that they were responsible for the damage.

"They would like to express their apologies to the grieving families for the distress caused."

Some of the graves belonged to babies who died in a series of heart operations at the Bristol Royal Infirmary in the 1980s and 1990s.

The spokesman added: "The children, who are both under the age of criminality, cannot be prosecuted for this offence and therefore no more action will be taken by the police in connection with this matter."

In England and Wales the criminal age of responsibility is 10 years old.