CATTLE smashed headstones and then dropped dead after eating a poisonous yew tree in a church graveyard.
Gravestones still lie smashed at Buscot Church and the clean-up is still going on.
Parishioners found the dead cattle in the graveyard on the morning of December 6 in the village near Lechlade.
They were grazing in the field next to the church, which was fenced off, and it is believed they entered the graveyard during the night.
Farmer Andy Symonds got a phone call telling him a car had collided with one of his wandering cattle.
He then found three dead in the churchyard and watched in horror as the other dropped dead in front of him.
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"I lost nine cattle in total," said the 30-year-old.
"It was a bad day, as I saw five drop dead in front of me and we couldn't save them.
"The vet said there was nothing that could be done as the yew tree poison is toxic - a mouthful is enough to kill.