A GRIEVING mother is asking for CCTV to be installed in a cemetery after flowers were stolen from her three-month-old daughter's grave and swapped for a 'cheap' bunch.

Farat Sadiq, 24, was heartbroken when she received a message from a friend informing her that the artificial flowers she had put on the grave in Accrington Cemetery for her daughter's birthday were missing.

This happened just a few months after a wreath was stolen from her brother's grave.

Farat said: "I've rung up the cemetery a few times asking about cameras.

"They should have CCTV on every entrance to the graveyard so they can see who is coming in and out."

Farat's daughter, Hana Sadiq, died in August 2019 from an "unascertained natural cause".

The flowers were placed on May 8 - Hana's birthday - with Farat using artificial flowers so they would last longer.

She then received a message from a friend who lives near the cemetery asking her if she had removed the flowers.

Farat was confused before realising that the flowers must have been taken on Tuesday morning (June 15).

When visiting the grave the next evening, in the place of the old flowers was a new bunch, however, Farat said that they were not as nice as the ones that she placed the month before and looked 'cheap'.

She added: "It's honestly heartbreaking. The fact that someone stole from someone who is not alive anymore.

"To look down and do that, people don't have any humanity or morals."

Farat has spoken to county councillor for Accrington West and Oswaldtwistle Central, Cllr Munsif Dad, who is asking for more people to come forward who have had similar experiences.

A spokesperson for Hyndburn Council which runs the cemetery, said: "Unfortunately from time to time things do go missing from graves in the cemetery.

"While it doesn’t happen very often the council does appreciate when it happens it is distressing for the family.

"The council does have CCTV on its buildings in Accrington Cemetery, however, the site is 44 acres in size with multiple entrance and exit points and as such it would be very difficult to identify a single person among the many people who visit the cemetery each day.”