Cemetery security concerns have been raised again this week after vandals allegedly targeted a war grave in High Wycombe.

Three teenagers have been arrested after the latest incident, which comes after a vandalism spree at the children’s cemetery, the Snowdrop Garden.

Police were called to the cemetery last Friday, the same day the Bucks Free Press called for councillors to act and put a stop to months of anguish for heartbroken parents, at around 4.40pm to reports of more criminal damage.

Officers attended the scene and found a grave, understood to be a war grave, had been vandalised.

Two 19-year-old men and one 18-year-old man, all from High Wycombe, were later arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage as part of the investigation.

Two of the men have been released on bail until March 28, and the other man has been released on bail until April 19.

Wycombe District Council officials stressed they had made “improvements” to security and record-keeping, and said they were looking into potentially installing CCTV at two locations.

However, officer Elaine Jewell confirmed at a WDC town committee meeting this week that these cameras would only be effective during the day because the council would not be able to light up the entire cemetery at night, to avoid disturbing residents.

A police operation is also continuing at the cemetery following many other reports of vandalism in recent months.

Spokesman Simon Farr said: “In addition to the excellent support we receive from police, the cemetery officer, who lives on site, also regularly patrols the cemetery which is surrounded by walls and the gates are locked every night.”

It came after Heather Payne, from High Wycombe, spoke out about her heartbreak when she found her baby son Christian Barton’s grave “desecrated” for the third time in eight months.

She found “de-headed” flowers, the name plaque thrown yards away and alcohol poured on the grave when she visited on January 29.

At the meeting, Ms Jewell said it was difficult to install low-cost CCTV at the cemetery because of its age and also because of a listed ‘flint wall’ around it which she said they are “not allowed to touch”.

She said: “We have already bought a small section of fencing to replace one gap adjacent to the gate so we have done some of the things we could do easily.

“We are looking at a quite affordable package of measures and the proposal on that is that we come back to you in June with a report which will have options.

“I have also exchanged emails with Ms Payne – she is aware of what we are trying to do and she is very happy that this work is being done.”