A BLACKBURN woman has spoken of her heartache and disgust after finding ornaments have been stolen from the grave of her daughter at Pleasington Crematorum.

Sarah Bernasconi-Parsons lost her baby girl Maggie at Burnley General Hospital in June 2015.

The couple have been rocked by news from a friend to say it looked like items had gone missing.

Now, with less than four weeks away from what would have been Maggie's fifth birthday, she feels she cannot bring more items to the grave in case they are taken.

The 38-year-old said: “I went to the grave six weeks ago to release some butterflies as Maggie was my butterfly as she was beautiful and flew away.

“Everything was OK with the grave then and then a friend rang me to say that some items were missing from the grave and wanted to see if we had moved them.

“We got there at 9.30am and there was only a few things still there and it was empty. I was crying and my husband Mark was just in shock and now is disgusted by it all.

“I spoke to the woman from the cemetery said they were aware of stuff being stolen from graves. Robbing from a grave I can’t get my head around it but to steal from a baby's grave is a new low.

“There are only a couple of things still left there. It is not how much the stuff is worth, it is for our dead baby. They just don’t care and some of the things we won’t be able to get back.

“Some people have posted on Facebook that it happened to them and I asked them did they report it to the police, but they said they had not because they would not get the things back, but I told them they should have done.”

Sarah is now calling for CCTV to be installed at the crematorium.

She said: “I mentioned to the person at the cemetery that there should be some cameras. But there will be no budget I suppose for that.”

In four weeks, it would have been Maggie’s fifth birthday but she is concerned about getting more items for the grave.

She said: “I am worried about bringing more stuff and it means I feel like I cannot celebrate her birthday.”

Sgt Steve Dundon, of Blackburn’s neighbourhood team, said: “Our thoughts go out to the family concerned. It is not acceptable for people to think of taking items from a children’s grave. Anyone with a conscience can call Crimestoppers or ring 101 quoting LC-202005-21-06-59.”

A Blackburn with Darwen Council spokesperson said: “This is deeply upsetting for any families involved and we fully sympathise with them.

“We would urge if anyone witnesses any anti-social or illegal behaviour to report it immediately to the police.”