A WIDOW says her two daughters were in tears when they visited her husband's grave on Father's Day after discovering their floral tributes had been removed.

Elaine Wood from Ellesmere Port took her daughters Anna-Marie, 18, and Rebecca, 16, to Overpool Cemetery in Ross-more Road on Sunday to lay fresh flowers next to their dad Peter's memorial tree.

But they were shocked to find their flowers, vases and remembrance crosses had all been removed during the week.

As a result the devastated girls could not leave fresh flowers by their father's tree because they had no vases to put them in.

Mrs Wood had also gone to lay flowers near her brother Brian Simkins' grave only to find that the cemetery had removed his tributes too.

She is upset the borough council did not write or call informing her that all plastic flowers and vases would be taken away even though she has had them returned.

Mrs Wood said: 'It was very hurtful as this is our personal space. Why couldn't they inform us?

'My daughters were both in tears, it was very upsetting. I go every week to lay flowers down and leave plastic ones there when the weather is bad.

'My husband passed away seven years ago and my brother nine so I've been doing it for a long time. I was told by the council that some graves had too many floral tributes and lights so they are clamping down.

'But our flowers were all neatly in vases and there were none covering the tree. I don't see why we should be punished.'

About five years ago Mrs Wood organised a successful campaign for extra security and CCTV cameras to be installed at the cemetery to stop yobs from vandalising gravestones and floral tributes.

The borough council's cemetery officer was unavailable for comment.