A MELKSHAM family say they are very upset after the gravestone of a loved one was pushed over by a Wiltshire Council worker.

The headstone on the grave of Teresa Wiltshire's father had been laid flat at Melksham Cemetery because it was deemed unsafe.

The 45-year-old, of Berryfield Park, said: “My mum got a letter saying the headstone had been laid down because it was unsafe, so me and my husband took it home, cleaned it up, and then we dug the base and put it back in – it was 80 per cent better than it was before.

“A few weeks later I was cleaning my nan and grandad’s gravestones when a man from the council came over and asked me what I was doing. I told him about how we had cleaned up my dad’s gravestone and put it back in the ground.

“He told me he’d pushed it over because it was unsafe and it needed a metal spike putting through it, but this would cost more than £300 – money me and my mum just don’t have.

“He was very arrogant about it. As far as I’m concerned he vandalised my dad’s grave and we’re all upset about it.”

As well as Mrs Wiltshire’s father’s gravestone being laid flat, others in the cemetery have also been taken down due to safety concerns.

Mrs Wiltshire believes even more will be pushed down in the coming weeks which will prompt anger amongst locals.

She added: “There are going to be a lot of upset people.

"There is a gravestone next to my dad’s which has been laid flat and there will be others that people no longer come to. What are they going to do about them if no one pays for the metal spike?

“My dad’s gravestone has been there since I was eight. As far as I’m concerned the council should be paying for these metal spikes to be put in.”

A Wiltshire Council spokesman said: “Gravestones need to be securely anchored into the ground in order to reduce the risk of them falling and potentially causing injury.

“This is a standard requirement in cemeteries across the country.

"Wiltshire Council staff will respectfully lay down gravestones that are considered to be a potential risk to people’s safety until families are able to arrange for them to be stabilised.”