But after a probe into the gruesome incident, the council has concluded that Connor McCurdy should not have been there in the first place.

There are also no plans to remove the railings which surround an old headstone, despite a plea from Selkirk's senior fire officer and community councillor John Munro for this to happen in the interests of public safety. Connor's mother Julie McCurdy had also called for the railings to be taken away.

"We were very concerned to learn of this accident and launched an immediate enquiry," said an SBC health and safety spokesman.

"There is normally little or no risk of injury to anyone using this cemetery and this unfortunate event would not have occurred if the injured person had not been climbing ... as both gates to the cemetery are permanently open, there was no need for anyone to be climbing at all."

The spokesman went on: "It would not be practical to remove such railings from our cemeteries, just as it would not be practical to ask householders who have that type of railing as fencing to remove them."

Connor had climbed onto the railings in order to scale a boundary wall. He and his friends had been using the shortcut to access Thirlestane Terrace.

But the youngster toppled over and was impaled on the rusty spikes, one of which went through his thigh. He was later freed by the local fire service using specialist cutting equipment and taken to the Borders General Hospital for surgery, where he remained for five days.

Robert Matheson, SBC's bereavement officer, told The Wee Paper: "Following the incident in Selkirk, we of course wish the injured boy a speedy recovery.

"It is also hoped other children will now be more aware of the dangers ... and parents will help us by encouraging their children not to use cemeteries as playgrounds or shortcuts.

"This council has more than 140 cemeteries and churchyards, and these are intended to be peaceful places where people can lay their loved ones to rest and visit them to pay their respects. Cemeteries are not playgrounds and should be treated with respect."