Health and safety in Bradford cemeteries has been praised by the author of a national report into graveyard safety.

Jerry White, one of the authors of the report from the Local Government Ombudsman into memorial safety, has described Bradford as being "ahead of the game" in terms of its safety policies.

Mr White carried out his report in response to national concerns over gravestones which were being toppled by Council officials fearful about their safety after the death of six-year-old Reuben Powell in a Harrogate cemetery in 2001.

The practice of toppling stones prompted widespread outcries from bereaved relatives over what has become termed "official vandalism" of graveyards.

In his report, Mr White laid out a series of policy recommendations, including that gravestones should only be laid down if absolutely necessary and recommends that Councils tell bereaved relatives before carrying out safety checks.

The recommendations effectively mirror the Council's health and safety provisions, prompting Mr White to single out Bradford for praise.

Mr White said: "Local governments are working at different paces on this same area, with some being much more advanced then others.

"It is good news that Bradford has in place the same policies which we have recommended.

"As far as we are concerned Bradford seems to be ahead of the game. In terms of what they have in place in respect of health and safety it looks to be good news for the citizens of Bradford."

The Council carries out repair work on more than 1,000 gravestones a year, and inspects thousands more to ensure their safety.

A full-time safety officer, David Farrah, is employed to carry out the checks around the city's cemeteries. Mr Farrah uses a special gun-like machine to test a stone's sturdiness. It exerts a pressure of up to 35kg to replicate the effect of somebody leaning on it.

Jane Glaister, director of arts, heritage and leisure, said: "We make every effort not to lay down headstones as we know the distress that it can cause.

"If our Memorial Officer finds a headstone or memorial that is not safe then we would call a mason straight away to repair it.

"However, we have to put the safety of the cemetery users first and if the mason is unable to make the headstone safe then we have to lay them down as a last resort and we contact the owners immediately."