A grieving family has been left upset after they said plants on a family grave were 'chewed up and squashed' by mowers.

Carole Ayres and her family said lawn mowers repeatedly plough over her parent’s graves and she is tired of re-planting the brightly coloured flowers at the graveside.

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Some of the damage at the graveside

The family plots of Mrs Ayres’ mother Evelyn Chapman, who died in 1997, and her father Walter Chapman, who died in 1969, are in the Merton and Sutton Joint Cemetery in Garth Road, Morden, which is maintained by Merton Council.

Mrs Ayres, of the Benhill area of Sutton, visited her mother’s grave on Mother’s Day where she was horrified to discover the damage - and she said it is not the first time this has happened.

Mrs Ayres said: "I saw track marks of at least eight inches, the plants were chewed up and squashed.

"We had some wallflowers and polyanthus.

"But they were chewed up by a mower and have died."

Mrs Ayres said she has noticed the damage before, and complaints to the council have proven fruitless.

She added: "They are mowing my parent’s graves, it’s not fair, it’s undignified."

"The family are getting very upset by it."

A Merton Council spokesperson said: "Our dedicated maintenance staff who look after Merton cemeteries are always careful and respectful in their work to make sure the cemetery is well maintained.

"If anyone has a concern about cemetery maintenance, we encourage them to contact us so we can ensure their concern is quickly resolved."

The council team can be reached on 020 8545 3666.