Tabernacl Chapel: 'Acted with best of intentions'

The chapel's solicitor said the road would be dug up on Wedensday so the content of the foundations could be revealed to villagers.

Tabernacl said it was tidying up the graveyard and only removing old headstones, which were in a dangerous condition.

The chapel had put up a notice in Welsh only, saying only headstones which were more than 100-years-old would be moved against the graveyard wall.

'Act of vandalism'

But people living near the chapel said that contrary to the chapel's intentions, many of the headstones used were much newer.

They shot a home video during the work which revealed one was from as recent as 1964.

The residents branded the work an act of vandalism, but Tabernacl officials said that no intact headstones had been destroyed and added that it had been acting to make the graveyard safe.

The chapel's solicitor said the intention was to trace relatives. He said the road would be dug up so everyone could see the exact situation.