About 400 coping stones have been stolen from a wall in the old cemetery in Wivenhoe.

Members of Wivenhoe Town Council were dismayed to find the 100-year-old stones had been taken and believe it was a "done to order" job.

Town clerk Antoinette Stinson said the stones are irreplaceable.

She said: "They were hand made when the wall was put up about 100 years ago.

"We think the job has been done professionally but they did leave a chisel behind.

"One of the councillors noticed the stones had gone on Thursday night but it was only on Friday morning that we realised how bad it was.

"We believe the stones have been stolen to order and we think the only place they will be able to sell them will be to a reclamation company.

"We're appealing for anyone who might have seen a van in the area on Tuesday or Wednesday night, or who saw the people who did this, to come forward," she added.