WARMINSTER families have been left angry and upset after ornaments and flowers left on their loved one’s graves were removed by staff at St John’s Church, in preparation for its 150th anniversary.

Mother-of-two, Donna Conduit, had two ornaments removed from her grandad’s grave and believes people should have been consulted before the clean-up took place.

The 34-year-old of Arn View, said: “Two figures had been taken off, one was of a grandfather figure and the other was of a grandmother figure which had been on the grave for 11 years.

“We found them in a pile at the side of the church which looked like it had been sorted through and made me think that it was the church rather than vandals who had done it.

“Me and my family are really annoyed about it, if they shouldn’t be there surely there should be a way for the church to get in contact so we could take them off.

“The figures were weathered but they weren’t broken although the grandmother has now lost both her arms but I’ve put them back on my grandad’s grave until I can find suitable replacements.”

Reverend Dennis Brett believes a clean-up was necessary ahead of the celebrations at the church on Boreham Road, and claims to have asked people to take home broken items for several months.

He said: “The majority of people have understood what we’re trying to do but there has been the odd person who is not happy.

“It’s our 150th anniversary coming up in September and we have major things planned, major work being done to celebrate it and this includes major work in the churchyard.

“It’s regrettable that some ornaments have been removed, it was not an intention to be malicious or do this on purpose but the majority of stuff that has been picked up are flowers or pots that have outlived way beyond their usefulness.

“Of course I can understand why people might be upset but there is a fundamental difference between a secular cemetery which allows almost anything to be placed there and an English churchyard which has very defined regulations.”

Ms Conduit added: “My nan was quite upset about it and so were both my children.

“What he [Rev Brett] thinks is rubbish means something to the people that put it there and he wouldn’t like it if someone threw away his belongings.

“From what I can tell other people are angry and upset about it as well.”