RULES banning heart-broken parents from decorating baby graves have sparked a storm of protest.
A petition organised by grieving mothers has been signed by more than 1,300 people demanding the ban is lifted at Crewe Cemetery.
The move follows accusations of threatening behaviour towards cemetery staff trying to enforce the rules in the new Woodland Grove burial area for children.
Police are investigating one incident after it was reported by Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council which runs the cemetery.
Council chiefs say the authority has gone to a great deal of expense to create an area which will stay looking neat and tidy.
The burial ground features a stone table with teddy bear gravestones and coloured gravel round it.
The petition was started when one couple went against policy and separated their baby's grave by laying kerbing on the gravel and filled the segregated area with flowers and toys.
Petition organisers Toni Hallam, 24, of Fairburn Avenue and Charlotte Lyons, 25, of Smith Grove, claim the rules are insensitive towards parents who decorate graves as part of the healing process.
Miss Hallam, who lost twin girls, said: 'When the teddy bear area was created we were told that it would be a lovely, peaceful area where our babies could be buried and we could show our continued love for them.
'There was nothing I could do to keep my babies alive, so I want to make sure that I can do everything possible now to keep their memories alive.
'So I was terribly upset to go to the grave the other day and find everything had been thrown to one side.'
But council bosses have defended the policy for Woodland Grove.
A spokesman said: 'As with every other part of the borough's cemeteries, the Woodland Grove plots carry with them some requirements relating to use that are designed to provide a reverential resting place.
'Our cemetery staff are very sensitive to the needs of families and distressing incidents are very unusual.
'But in one, staff were physically threatened in front of other bereaved parents present at the time.
'Our employees must be protected from bullying and intimidating behaviour and, consequently, a complaint has been lodged with police and that is being investigated.'
Parents are to present their petition to MP Gwyneth Dunwoody at her constituency office in Nantwich Road, Crewe, on Saturday. She said: 'I am very concerned that this difficulty has arisen, and will be investigating with the help of the council.'
