Fury in UK town as Ebenezer Scrooge's grave defaced by vandals

Ebenezer Scrooge sedate vandalised (Image: SWNS)

Police person launched an probe aft the celebrated gravestone of 'Ebenezer Scrooge' was smashed to pieces by mindless vandals.

The inscribed chromatic has been a fashionable tourer attraction successful Shrewsbury since being utilized arsenic a prop successful the 1984 movie adaptation of Charles Dickens's classical novella. But section residents person been near devastated aft yobs destroyed the much-loved landmark astatine St Chad’s Church implicit the weekend.

Shocking photos amusement however the gravestone has been smashed into respective pieces aft delighting visitors to the churchyard for 40 years. Shrewsbury Town Council's clerk, Helen Ball, said the harm took spot betwixt 6 p.m. connected Saturday (23/11) and midday connected Sunday (24/11).

She said: "It is similar a pilgrimage astatine this clip of year, visitors travel to the municipality to spot it, and present immoderate moron has decided they are going to smash it up due to the fact that it is simply a spot of amusive for them.

"Words neglect me, it is astir our modern past and the information we were each truly arrogant that an planetary movie was filmed successful this municipality but also, it is simply a burial crushed and however disrespectful is that."

Shocking photos amusement however the gravestone has been smashed into respective pieces (Image: SWNS)

Mrs Ball said a fig of chromatic masons had already been successful interaction astir perchance repairing the stone. She said that the girl of the antheral who created the chromatic successful 1984 had besides been successful interaction to accidental helium was "devastated" by what had happened.

She added: "We’re present near with a gravestone that’s successful aggregate pieces. I deliberation it’s 1 of those things that’s precise beloved to everybody’s hearts. A batch of america spell connected a Christmas pilgrimage to spot it. The idiosyncratic who did it whitethorn person a conscience and determine to ain up.”

The movie, mostly filmed successful the town, starred American Oscar-winner George C Scott arsenic Ebenezer Scrooge, arsenic good arsenic Edward Woodward and Welsh histrion Roger Rees. The gravestone is seen successful the movie erstwhile Scrooge is confronted by the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come and helium wipes distant snowfall to uncover his ain name.

One nonmigratory commented connected societal media said: "What vile radical I truly anticipation they get caught, that’s disgusting." Another added: "What benignant of sick minds were down this? What is going on... it's been determination for 40 years. Absolutely disgusted."

One put: "I’m utterly appalled. We emotion visiting Scrooge’s gravestone each Christmas. I anticipation they find who did this mindless vandalism!!".

The chromatic has been a fashionable tourer attraction successful Shrewsbury (Image: SWNS)

Another idiosyncratic commented: "Disgusting. It’s a portion of Shrewsbury's past aft the beauteous movie was made present and it is simply a sedate too. No respect."

West Mercia Police are present appealing for witnesses oregon anyone with accusation to get successful touch.

A unit spokesperson said: "Officers are appealing for witnesses aft the gravestone of the celebrated Charles Dickens' character, Ebenezer Scrooge, was destroyed successful Shrewsbury. The vandalism is believed to person happened wrong the past 3 days, wherever the headstone belonging to the fictional quality has been broken.

"The grave, which is located astatine St Chad’s Church successful Claremont Hill, was utilized arsenic a prop successful 1980s movie A Christmas Carol.

"Once filming was completed the inscribed chromatic utilized arsenic Ebenezer Scrooge’s sedate remained successful the religion grounds and has since go a fashionable tourer attraction wrong the town."

PC Jono Lightfoot added “We are carrying retired a fig of enquiries to recognize what led to the gravestone being destroyed, and we are appealing to the nationalist for their help.

“If you were successful the country betwixt Thursday 21 November and yesterday (Sunday 24 November), and witnessed immoderate antithetic behaviour, delight get successful interaction arsenic it whitethorn assistance with our enquiries.

"You tin interaction maine by emailing maine astatine jono.lightfoot@westmercia.police.uk quoting incidental fig 288i of November 24, 2024.”

Alternatively, interaction the autarkic foundation Crimestoppersonline oregon by calling 0800 555 111.