A DEVASTATED mum has spoken of her hurt after thieves stole sentimental decorations from her daughter’s grave.

Kim Kelly said she felt “mocked” after yobs replaced the mementos with a figurine of a laughing gnome.

Her daughter, Naomi, was buried at Pleasington Cemetery in 2001 after she died of bronchopneumonia aged 11.

She said cemetery bosses had told her it was the latest in a spate of thefts from the graveyard.

Yesterday, the Lancashire Telegraph reported how former pub landlord Stuart Donnelly noticed keepsakes had been taken from the grave of his late wife Ann, who died only three weeks ago.

Mrs Kelly, who visits Naomi’s plot three times a week, turned up on Tuesday with her husband, Joseph, 52, and two sons, Scott, 30, and Jamie, 24, to discover the artefacts were gone.

The 49-year-old said: “We left four decorations at the grave last week. We went back on Tuesday and they were gone and replaced with this horrible gnome.

“We went to check because the weather was bad and Joseph noticed they were gone.

“The worst thing was how they had replaced it with this smiling gnome. It deflated him. He was devastated and I was an emotional wreck.

“It will take me quite a while to forget that sight.”

The family, of Bradda Road, Blackburn, have spoken to cemetery foreman, Dave Rigby, who said this theft was the fifth in recent days.

The Mayor of Blackburn, Councillor Alan Cottam, and Blackburn with Darwen Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment Services, Cllr Jim Smith, have both come out to criticised the incidents.

Mrs Kelly said: “It just goes to show you how much evil is out there. If they had loved ones buried, how would they like this?

Tony Watson, Head of Environment and Public Protection at Blackburn with Darwen Council said: “Acts of theft such as these are deplorable, and we will work to hopefully ensure those responsible are found.”