Grave robbers are being hunted after three floral tributes were snatched from headstones.

Police say they have had three thefts reported to them at Accrington Cemetery.

In one instance heartless thieves stole flowers left for the 10th anniversary of his father’s death.

Philip Corbett said he ‘felt physically sick’ after visiting the graves of his late mum and dad Mary and Stanley at Accrington Cemetery and finding the white and red roses he left in their memory were missing.

The 53-year-old, who is partially sighted and registered disabled, said he was alerted after a friend also discovered flowers missing from the headstones of both her late husband and parents.

Philip Corbett from Accrington next to the grave headstone of his parents Mary and Stanley Corbett. Flowers left at the grave were stolen by thieves.

Philip said the flowers were taken on the eve of the 10th anniversary of his dad’s death and is ‘very upset and hurt’.

Philip, of Moss Hall Road, Accrington, said ‘it’s grave robbing, plain and simple’.

He said: “I couldn’t believe it when I saw they weren’t there. The flowers had only been there a few weeks. I left them in their plastic container but they have taken them and just left the plastic. It’s just horrible and makes me feel sick.

“It is the 10th anniversary of my dad’s death on February 11 and it makes me so angry. I always pop up at least once a month to see them and the last time I was there I left some white and red roses. They were really nice flowers and weren’t cheap to buy.

“I thought they might have been taken by the council for some reason but when I went to the cemetery office they didn’t know about it.”

Philip said his brother, nieces and nephews will be ‘horrified’ when he tells them what happened. He added: “There’s no need for it. I find it absolutely disgusting I really do. It’s the lowest of the low to pinch something off someone’s grave. It has really, really hurt me and left me very upset.”

Mary and Stanley moved to the borough from Ireland and worked in mills and factories before running The Great Eastern Hotel pub on Arnold Street in Accrington for more than 13 years. They previously lived in Oswaldtwistle and Rising Bridge.

A Lancashire Police spokesperson said: “It was reported that three sets of flowers have been taken from three different headstones. The neighbourhood team have been made aware and are looking into it.”

Hyndburn council confirmed they had received a report from a relative of flowers going missing from a grave in the cemetery.