The Invercargill community has been left disgusted after pictures emerged on social media of a destroyed headstone in one of its cemeteries.

A woman posted photos of the headstone to a Facebook group on Monday afternoon.

The photos were posted to social media on Monday afternoon. 

She described the act as "bloody disrespectful". In the Facebook post, she says "this is someone's loved one.''

The post attracted many comments with hundreds expressing their disgust.

"Little mongrels!!" one said.

Others labelled it "disgusting" and "disrespectful".

"Absolutely despicable!" another wrote.

A police spokeswoman confirmed to Newshub a report about the damage in Invercargill's Eastern Cemetery had been received on Monday.

A statement had been taken from a family member, she said. No further details were available.