MEMORIAL testing is underway at two sites in Oxford.

Oxford City Council has been testing memorials during the past 13 years, to make sure they are safe and not likely to fall over.

This year the inspections, carried out by Oxford Direct Services, is to take place through autumn and winter in Wolvercote Cemetery and St Sepulchre’s in Jericho.

Laura Harlock, Oxford Direct Services' Cemeteries Manager, said: "Memorials are sites of great personal importance and we are conscious we need to work sensitively to respect that. If we find an unstable memorial we will do our utmost to contact the family before it is repositioned.

"Whilst modern memorials are all installed to high safety standards, this has not always been the case. Older ones may risk falling over and causing serious injury.

"Any work that we do to ensure memorials are safe and won't cause an accident will be carried out with due respect."

Before starting inspections, notices are placed around the cemetery to to highlight the work.

Any unstable memorials will be supported with wooden stakes, while some at 'imminent risk' will be carefully laid down.