Heartache over grave trinkets

Sentimental trinkets left by a 15-year-old girl on her mother's grave have been broken, sparking an investigation.

Laura Bowater has been attending her mother Barbara's grave at a Black Country cemetery every two weeks since her death from cancer, aged 53, two years ago.

But on her latest visit, the teenager, of Cherry Tree Avenue, Yew Tree, was left shattered to discover two little angel models on sticks placed at either side of the grave with a poem had been smashed.

And medals Laura and her elder sister Julie, aged 45, had put at the spot, gained from taking part in the Race for Life in legal secretary Barbara's memory, had been thrown out of the way.

The pupil at Q3 Academy in Great Barr said grass-cutting had recently taken place at West Bromwich cemetery in Heath Lane and Sandwell Council has launched a probe to find out if its workers are to blame.

"I was upset and angry," said Laura. "I looked around and noticed it was not only my mum's grave it had happened to, but others as well.

"I would have understood more if they were a significant distance away, but they were as close as possible to the headstone. It just shows no respect at all. I just want to keep my mum's character alive."

Laura, her father Jeff, aged 72, and Julie have now made a formal complaint to Sandwell Council and got a letter back from its customer services department this week promising an investigation and a response by June 22.

Sandwell Councillor Derek Rowley said: "We are aware of the sensitive nature of items placed on graves. Staff do take a great deal of care when mowing and remove items. We are looking into the matter."