A HEARTBROKEN widow has spoken of her distress after gravediggers left a 5ft pile of soil on her husband's grave, crushing flowers and damaging a container.

Mary Humphries, of Heywood Road, Accrington, has visited the grave of her husband Thomas three times each week since he died two years ago.

When she went to the Church and Clayton-le-Moors cemetery, on Dill Hall Lane, Church, on Wednesday found the grave buried under the huge mound of earth.

"There were neither plants nor flowers. I had put some flowers down for his anniversary and a container for them," she said.

Mrs Humphries, who suffers from arthritis, clawed away as much soil as she could with her hands and found the flower container dented.

"The flowers were still stuck there and most of the plants are flattened," she said.

"I did the best I could for 10 or 15 minutes to try and straighten the plants. I was heartbroken. I could have screamed."

Yesterday Mrs Humphries went to the cemetery office but said the man turned his back on her.

"He seemed amused. He said 'They have to put it somewhere'.

"I said why not put it in the space behind the head of the grave where there is plenty of room," Mrs Humphries said.

"They don't care. Have they no respect for people or their property, especially in a cemetery? I was very distressed.

"It's bad enough having your loved ones up there without something like this happening. The people responsible have no compassion."

It is the second time this month that the cemetery has come under fire.

Earlier widower Patrick Gallagher, of Garden Street, Oswaldtwistle, protested after he discovered a digger had run over his wife's grave during an exhumation.

Peter Clegg, head of works at Hyndburn Council, said: "We apologise for any upset. Any damage to the grave will be made good.

"We are investigating this situation fully and will be in touch with the family as a matter of urgency.

"Current practice is to place a digging board adjacent to the grave and place all 'spoil' upon that board which is subsequently removed after the interment in the adjacent grave.

"This is in accordance with the Institute of Burial and Cremations Administration Board code of practice. However we will review our practices and procedures to see if any change is possible."