Two skulls have been taken from a grave in what police believe is linked to a family feud.

Police were called to the cemetery in Metal Bridge, County Durham, England shortly before noon on Saturday following a report a grave had been disturbed and a headstone damaged.

The damaged grave belonged to two brothers who were both aged 16 when they died.

Levi George Price, was found hanged in the garden of his home in the nearby town of Ferryhill in 2001, while Gareth Price, was found hanged in a young offenders' institution back in 2005, just hours before he was due to be sentenced for raping a 17-year-old girl.

Following forensic examinations over the weekend it has been established the skulls of both bodies have been removed.

Detective Superintendent Adrian Green said: "This is a sickening incident which has understandably upset many people.

"We believe that the damage to the graves is part of an ongoing feud between members of travelling families.

"This has taken things too far. It is depraved and goes against the religious and cultural beliefs of decent people.

"What I'd like to say to the community is this feud has to stop and we need anyone with information about this incident or the wider feud to contact us.

"I would also like to reassure local people that we will be running regular police patrols in key areas to deal robustly with any further disturbances. The incidents to date have been targeted and do not involve the wider community directly."

A white police forensics tent was erected over the burial site at the weekend.

One local, who asked not to be named, said: "They have been there all weekend. The officers in their white suits have been working there.

"We don't know what has been going on, we haven't been told anything.

"But there's more to this than a damaged headstone."

Another man said: "On Saturday night I had a walk up the street and you could see them working in the darkness, they had floodlights on and they were taking photographs."