A FURIOUS family have slammed Hyndburn Council over an "insensitive" move forcing them to clear away the toys from their baby's grave.

Karen Ingham, 55, and her daughter Rebecca Briggs, 27, have spent years tending the grave of Rebecca's son Aidan who died in 2000.

Tiny Aidan, who was stillborn at Queen's Park Hospital, Blackburn, was buried in the baby garden at Accrington Cemetery and the family have always gone there to pay loving tribute to him by putting toys and other small statues on the grave.

But now council bosses have told them they must cut back on the number of items they can leave.

A sign put up at the archway entrance says families are only allowed to put toys on the top or base of the headstone.

And they can only use the one-foot space in front of the headstone to plant bulbs or small plants.

Karen said: "When I saw the sign I was just disgusted, angry and very upset.

"I have done something that I never thought I would have to do and that is violate my grandson's grave.

"The baby garden is a special place where parents and other relatives can come with small gifts for their lost babies and get some comfort for their terrible loss.

"This is just taking it out on the people who care about the graves as there are many people who want to make an effort and put on a nice display."

The sign says the move has come because people had been complaining the place looked untidy.

But Karen added: "Many of the graves have been lovingly tended and decorated in a special way by doting parents. Now, because of someone's petty complaining, we have had to strip our baby's grave of the precious gifts placed there."

Karen and Rebecca both live on Turkey Street, Accrington, and Rebecca has three daughters, Bethany, four, Jasmine, two, and 11-month-old Danielle.

A council spokesman said: "We would never wish to upset grieving relatives and we will look into this case.

"We do take care to be sensitive and balance the needs of all families, some of whom wish to adorn their graves, alongside those who don't.

"The policy we have is similar to most other councils and we understand that relatives may wish to place a few small toys on their child's grave.

"We therefore ask them to place toys on the concrete strip at the head of the grave to protect them from damage when grass cutting takes place.

"In this way we can keep the area well maintained for visitors and we advise all families in advance of the conditions when they purchase the plot."