ANTI-SOCIAL behaviour and ‘disgraceful vandalism’ caused families to be turned away from Middlewich Cemetery and prompted a subsequent police investigation, it has been revealed. It comes as the Guardian was informed by a heartbroken daughter that she was refused access to the cemetery to visit her late mum’s grave on Christmas Day. Sam Preston was shocked to discover the cemetery was closing when she turned up at lunchtime to lay flowers. Drunken yobs partying and drinking around the graves earlier in the day caused staff to make the unprecedented decision to shut the gates early. We always go as a family to pay our respects to mum, said Sam, from Middlewich. There was no sign to say it was shutting early. It was only 1pm and the cemetery doesn t usually close until 4pm.