Leigh family devastated after grave incident in Soutehnd

Wendy Timms, 54, from Leigh, says she was left speechless when she went to visit her mother Joan’s grave in Sutton Cemetery, Southend, on the 32nd anniversary of her death on Friday.

When she arrived she says all the trees, plants and flowers around the grave had been taken away despite the family claiming they were not given any warning.

Wendy says some of the trees had been there for more than ten years.

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She said: “We are all just shocked and devastated.

“My sister visited on August 7, and everything was fine and maintained, and then I came down on August 26, and everything was gone, I was in pieces.

“My husband said he had never heard me cry like that in 20 years.

“We visit every few months, so we keep it tidy, and the only time we heard about plans to tidy up was two years ago, and nothing was done so we thought everything was fine.

“Now we have lost everything, if we knew the trees and plants were a problem over the ten years, I would have dug them up and planted them at home as they mean a lot to me.

“There will be loads of people in the same position as me.

“But now there is nothing that can be done to bring it back. We are heartbroken.”

Martin Terry, councillor responsible for public protection, said: “We fully understand and appreciate the sensitivity around placing personal items at the graves of lost loved ones, and in this case removing all the self-set bushes, trees and shrubs that were causing damage to the foundations and memorial headstones.

“Lawn graves by their nature have to be maintained as lawned areas, so accessibility for our staff to carry out the necessary maintenance work is very important.

“These conditions are made clear to those wishing to acquire a lawn grave prior to a grave being installed, so everyone is aware of which personal items can be left and how they should be presented."