A young woman whose baby was born stillborn has been left devastated after the council rejected her headstone design.
Sinnead Alexandra Turbitt gave birth to Gracie-May in August and after burying her little girl, she began the process of choosing her headstone.
But Hyndburn council rejected her idea of a heart shaped headstone with pink writing, stating it did not meet regulations.
Sinnead, 17, of Pickup Street in Clayton-le-Moors, said: “I was taken into hospital with reduced movement, and after scans and tests I was told they couldn’t find a heartbeat.
“I gave birth on August 21 and we buried Gracie-May two weeks later. I took the money for her pram and got a pink horse drawn carriage to take her to the cemetery, I chose a pink coffin, and had pink and white flowers.”
Sinnead and her partner David Aspin, 27, went through the difficult task of choosing a headstone.
She said: “I wanted a heart with pink writing and a picture of mine and Gracie-May’s hands. I filled in all the forms for the council.
“Then I got an email from the council saying they were refusing it because it didn’t meet their regulations.
“I’m devastated about it, the council sent me a leaflet about headstone sizes and dimensions and nowhere does it say I can’t have a heart shaped one.”
Sinnead has started a petition on Change.org, which has had more than 1,000 signatures.
Hyndburn council leader Miles Parkinson offered the family his “deepest condolences”.
He added: “We understand they have been working with a monumental mason from outside the area, who may be unfamiliar with our cemetery guidelines, which are in place to allow cemeteries to better manage and maintain headstones for the future.
“We would very much welcome the chance to meet with the family and discuss ways to personalise the proposed memorial, whilst remaining in keeping with the other memorials.”
