The chapel at Islington’s Trent Park Cemetery in Cockfosters had to close because its windows kept getting smashed – but was able to reopen on Father’s Day.

Islington Gazette: A sign has been put up saying the building is closed due to anti-social behaviour.A sign has been put up saying the building is closed due to anti-social behaviour. (Image: Archant)

The issue at the Barnet burial ground has been going on for a few months, the Gazette understands, with the management having no choice but to close the chapel due to the vandalism.

But Islington Council, which runs it, made sure it was open on Sunday for Father’s Day, when hundreds of people were expected to head north to visit the graves of their fathers.

One man who has loved ones buried at the cemetery told the Gazette the destruction had been caused by a man who had been told to stop sleeping rough in the grounds.

He added: “It’s been going on for three months.

“I’ve got family buried there. It’s quite disgusting that it’s been going on for so long. The windows have all been left with silver duct tape on them.

“The people of Islington haven’t been able to use the chapel, it’s been all locked up and they haven’t been able to get to the book of remembrance. I don’t know what’s happening.”

Speaking to the Gazette last week, he added: “With Father’s Day coming up people are going to be visiting the cemetery.

“It’s disgraceful that they are going to be going there visiting their father’s grave and come across this. A lot of stuff has gone missing off the graves too.”

Pictures taken last week show the damage caused by the vandalism, with many of the lower windows covered over with tape having been smashed. A sign on the chapel last week said it was closed due to “anti social behaviour”.

An Islington Council spokesman would not confirm details of the vandalism but said: “Very sadly, there have been some incidents of anti-social behaviour and damage in our cemetery, and we are working to address this.”

The cemetery is one of four managed by Islington and Camden Cemetery Services. None of them are in Islington, due to a lack of space. The others are Islington and St Pancras cemetery and Islington Crematorium in East Finchley and Hampstead Cemetery in West Hampstead.