A mother has been left distraught after the cross on her daughter’s grave was stolen.

Herts Advertiser: Betsy's grave before the cross was takenBetsy's grave before the cross was taken (Image: Archant)

Carrie-Anne Dunbar, of Wheathampstead, buried her daughter Betsy at St Mary’s Church in Redbourn after she was stillborn last year.

She visits her daughter’s grave every day and was horrified recently when she found that the wooden engraved cross on the grave had been stolen, along with the crosses from the two adjacent graves.

She said:”I go there every day to make it look nice and to think someone has stolen something from my child’s grave is just disgusting.”

The vicar noticed that the crosses had been stolen in the morning of Sunday, November 13, and alerted the police and later the family when they arrived at the grave.

This is not the first time that something has been stolen from Betsy’s grave - all of the decorations placed on her grave for her first birthday were also taken.

Carrie-Anne added: “I spoke to the vicar and he said that he has been there 10 years and this has never happened.

“It’s not worth anything; I just don’t get why someone would do this. I want to know who would take it. It’s just a piece of wood; it’s not worth anything but it’s worth something to me.”

The cross was stolen between midnight on Saturday, November 12, and 9.30am on Sunday, November 13, and Herts Police are appealing for information about the incident.

Anyone who may be able to help with their inquiries is asked to call the non-emergency number 101.