CALLOUS thieves have been stealing from graves in Leigh Cemetery.

Now cemetery authorities are stepping up surveillance after an angry, grieving mother asking for greater vigilance after yet another theft from the grave of her loved one.

Pensioner Kathleen Hardman is fuming after thieves stole a holly cross she placed for Christmas. And Astley parents, still grieving after a tragic accident took their teenage son, are angered by their callous actions.

Mrs Hardman, of Holden Road, Leigh, who lost her husband Ronald five years ago, took three matching wreathes to relatives' plots in Leigh cemetery last Wednesday.

Two days later she was told that the one on her sister Elizabeth's headstone in the Catholic ground had vanished.

An angry Kathleen, 73, who had been accompanied on the visit by her sister Mrs Doris Stout, reported the theft to the police.

On Monday she informed Wigan Council's parks and cemeteries department and was told she was the third person to have complained that day.

Kathleen said: "How can people stoop so low?

"The cemetery officers have promised to keep a watch out for them, but I am so annoyed.

"The wreaths cost £11.50 each and I have already had to replace one. I don't know what the world is coming too when people can steal from graves."

And the Astley mum, who does not want to be named, said: "How could anybody do this in such a place. Wind chimes and other tokens of remembrance have gone missing over the past five months from our grave. Others have been damaged nearby and half a dozen or more graves have been affected.

"It's no use blaming kids for this, although I don't personally think the cemetery is the place where school pupils should be walking round eating their lunch."

Cemeteries servicers manager Tony Bassett said: "We have started a Cemetery Watch scheme where volunteers will provide us with information about such happenings. Our staff check cemeteries seven days a week.

"I don't think schoolchildren are responsible, but we will prosecute anyone known to be stealing from graves and will take the matter as far as we can."