Bones interred at Perthshire cemetery amid fears of grave robbers.

Council vows bones will be reinterred in ‘dignified manner’

Bodies at a historic Perthshire cemetery will be interred for a second time, after their bones were left exposed by crumbling tombs.

The worsening state of lairs at Meigle churchyard has sparked fears it could be targeted by grave robbers.

The site is well known as the final resting place for British prime minister Sir Henry Campbell Bannerman and reputedly holds the grave of a Pictish queen who was married to King Arthur.

Council chiefs are reviewing its centuries-old lairs, after at least two of its inhabitants were left open to the elements. They say the bodies will be laid to rest again in a “respectful and dignified” manner.

Repairs were carried yesterday to protect the tombs from ghoulish thieves.

The alarm was raised by ex-Perthshire resident Ian Cronan who had returned to the area to carry out genealogical research.

The keen historian, who now lives in Glasgow, spotted damage to a raised tomb near the 19th Century church and was worried the human remains could be stolen by someone “for macabre reasons”.

“I know it’s an old grave but if we are being realistic, it’s a little disrespectful to the dead to have their bones open to public viewing like that,” he said.

“All anyone could ask for is that it’s resealed or reset and the bones back out of sight and away from anyone with a mind to have a morbid curiosity in their house.”

It is not known who will need to be reinterred because details on the tomb cover have worn away over time. However, they are thought to be from the 18th Century.

Perth and Kinross Council has pledged to take action, after the issue was raised with officers this week.

A spokeswoman said: “We were made aware on Thursday that remains interred within a memorial at Meigle old churchyard had become exposed.

“These occurrences are rare but can happen with old graves of this type.

“We will ensure the remains are reinterred in an appropriately respectful and dignified manner.”

The council was forced to scale back its cemetery maintenance work during lockdown.

Pictures: Steve MacDougall. Toppled gravestones in the cemetery at Meigle Church.

Human bones have been exposed after tombs at Meigle Church began to crumble.