A FAMILY say they have been left devastated after finding the grave of a loved one wrecked.

Ronald Hobson's relatives were called on Monday morning to Thornaby Cemetery to remove any grave ornaments due to a burial in an adjoining plot.

However, Mr Hobson's granddaughter Leanne Rogers said the family were angry and upset to find that soil had been dumped on the 68-year-old's grave after the waterlogged neighbouring plot began to subside.

"What has happened is absolutely disgusting," said the 22-year-old. "We got the call from someone from the Bereavement Service asking us to go along to the cemetery and remove anything that could be damaged but when we got there it was an absolute mess."

A Stockton Borough Council spokeswoman said: "Due to the recent heavy rain it was necessary to remove items from the grave and store them safely to ensure they were not damaged.

"We understand just how sensitive this can be and it was done in consultation with the family and we have agreed to meet early in the new year to return those items that were not replaced immediately following the burial."

Mr Hobson, a father-of seven, who had 23 grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren, died in April.

A former steelworker and care assistant, he was well known in his home town of Thornaby as chairman of Smokey Joe’s social club. 

His widow, Doreen, 63, was too upset to speak about what had happened.

Miss Rogers said: "My granddad was the cornerstone of our family - he was at the centre of everything that happened and we are still struggling to come to terms with our loss without having to go to the cemetery and find his grave in a state.

After discovering the condition of the grave, Miss Rogers contacted the council's Bereavement Services to express her anger.

She said: "We called them and had to leave a message because the woman who contacted us was on her lunch, after waiting for nearly two hours she still hadn't called back so I had to call her back which was really annoying.

"However, when spoke to her she didn't seem to be very sympathetic about what had happened and certainly didn't apologise to us."