Safety concerns have been raised over the condition of dozens of gravestones at Paulton Cemetery, with an inspection register identifying 60 memorials requiring urgent attention because of the risk of them falling over.

A new register identifies headstones across the historic cemetery, all classified as red-risk, the highest category in its traffic-light assessment system.

One of the most dangerous memorials, marked as “high risk” and needing urgent stonemasonry, was only installed in the last decade.

Many headstones are described as being at risk of falling, while several are specifically identified as posing a high risk of toppling if touched.

The register, entitled Register of Headstone Requiring Attention, was presented to Paulton Parish Council and is now on the council’s website. It records numerous memorials which have failed a topple test, indicating concerns about their stability.

Among the most serious cases is a large headstone commemorating Benjamin and Christine Thayer, which is described as “very loose/high” risk despite having been relatively recently fitted. The register states that the memorial failed its topple test and requires attention.

Another headstone, commemorating Percy and Frances Tovey, is classified as being at high risk of falling if touched. Inspectors recorded that no dowelling had been fitted to secure it.

Other entries identify inadequate fixing pins, missing dowelling and memorials leaning dangerously forward.

In numerous cases, the register recommends that gravestones should be repaired, made safe or laid flat if repairs cannot be undertaken.

Parish clerk Helen Jenkins told The Gazette that signage had been installed in the cemetery to alert visitors to safety work, and that the council was encouraging family members to contact them.

“Ultimately these graves are the responsibility of the families concerned, but there are no records so the chances of us finding family members are pretty slim.”

She said safety work would be carried out by the cemetery groundsmen as part of regular duties over the coming months.