FAMILIES are distraught after flowers and other ornaments were stolen from graves.

People visiting graves in Willows Cemetery, Northwick Road, Canvey, have noticed items lovingly places on graves of loved ones going missing over the past few weeks.

A number of people have come forward to express their disgust at the thefts.

One woman, who asked not to be named, said: “Over Christmas, flowers were stolen from my dad’s grave and other families had said they’d had it happen to them, too.

“And now over Easter, someone had taken a beautiful artificial bouquet from his grave.

“It’s just awful.

“I was disgusted when I realised what had happened.

“It’s not the price of the flowers that matters, it’s the fact that someone is stealing from graves.

“I want people to be aware of what’s happening and to keep an eye out to see if they spot anything suspicious.”

She is not the only person to come forward, with several others also reporting thefts of flowers and ornaments from graves in the last month.

Gay Harris, office manager at T Cribb and Sons which leases the cemetery, said they were aware that thefts at the cemetery did happen.

She said: “We had a report at Christmas that a family had some flowers stolen.

“We haven’t had anything recently and would encourage people to report any incidents to us.

“Sadly, this does happen and there have been reports at Bowers Gifford cemetery as well.

“It is rare that this happens but we are aware that it does happen.

“Cemeteries are open to the public and 99 per cent of people who visit are respectful.”

She added that is was not possible for the cemetery to be under constant guard, but there were groundsmen who looked after the land.

Other graves in south Essex have also been targeted.

Last Easter, a number of mourners at Basildon Crematorium, in Church Road, Bowers Gifford, were shocked when they discovered a lot of floral tributes had been taken by callous thieves.