A widow has hit out at Tendring Council after it accidentally "desecrated" her husband's gave.

When Veronica Sweeney went to her husband's grave at Burrs Cemetery, Great Clacton, she found the headstone and its surround had been removed from the plot.

Mrs Sweeney, 66, of Olivers Road, Clacton, whose husband James died ten years ago, said: "I was horrified, I just could not believe it. They had desecrated his whole grave as if he was never there.

"I could not believe the council would do such a thing. It does not make any sense."

She added a new grave had been dug nearby and had interfered with her husband's plot. The headstone is now covered by green material by the side of the grave.

Mike Page, Tendring Council's public relations manager, said: "It appears while one new grave was being dug part of the adjacent plot began to subside, causing some damage to the memorial set."

He added: "We know that extreme wet weather conditions that occasionally give rise to this sort of incident but nevertheless it is always distressing."

The council has apologised to Mrs Sweeney and taken steps to repair the damage.

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