Daughter 'devastated' over cemetery rules

A grieving daughter has accused a town council of "vandalism" after plants and flowers were removed from her parents' grave.

Anita Jewitt-Holder said she was left "devastated" after visiting the cemetery in Hedon earlier this week and finding an empty patch of soil in front of the headstone.

Hedon Town Council rules state the planting of any type of tree, shrub or plant in the cemetery grounds is "totally prohibited".

Ms Jewitt-Holder is now calling for rules to be relaxed after saying she had received no warning that there was an issue.

Ms Jewitt-Holder told the BBC she had planted hyacinths, snowdrops, crocuses, daffodils and fuchsias in a small "half moon garden" in front of her parents headstone.

She said: "There was no forewarning. I was upset, I was angry, I was hurt. It's just not right to do that to someone's property and throw it away.

"This is a little bit of my parents and it has been taken away from me. This is vandalism but it has been done by the council."

Hedon Town Council confirmed it had removed the plants and said the rules clearly state no planting is allowed at the site on Ivy Lane.

A spokesperson added: "The rules and regulation are signed upon purchase of a plot and are publicly available."

However, Ms Jewitt-Holder is adamant she should be allowed to keep her garden, which she said is a tribute to the one her mum and dad had when they were alive.

"I'd like the council to give me the plants back or replace them and I think the rules should be relaxed.

"I understand if some graves are over the top, horrible or untidy but mine is not an eyesore."

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