Rusty shotguns left at Masterton graveyard

A truckload of rubbish tipped at Riverside Cemetery is bad enough, but what police found in the contents caused them some initial concern.

Among the rubbish dumped on Wednesday were three rusted double-barrelled shotguns, each in two pieces.

However, Masterton police officer Sergeant Simon Irving said the weapons were not a danger, being so badly rusted and dilapidated. The age of the shotguns was estimated at about 60 to 100 years old.

"I have to send them to the armourer, but they would be unable to clean them up."

He thinks someone has cleaned out an old outdoor shed.

"In among the junk, was a rotting canvas bag, containing three broken shotguns."

He said there was always an amnesty for handing in firearms, although these ones did not pose a danger.

"What annoys me the most, is people who would dump in a cemetery."

He said rocks and rubble were among the junk. "Someone's cleared out their back yard."

He said he discussed the idea of putting a chain across the cemetery entrance.

"It's supposed to be a sanctuary - obviously not a sanctuary for everybody."

Masterton District Council spokesman Sam Rossiter-Stead said the police had collected the shotguns by the time a clean-up crew arrived.

Mr Rossiter-Stead reckoned the dumpers had used a truck or a ute to unload the rubbish.

However, dumping at Riverside Cemetery was a rarity. He said Riverside Cemetery was a "very unusual" dumping spot for illegal tippers.