A Horwich widow has expressed her "heartbreak" after finding items had been taken from her husband’s grave when she went to visit during the week of their anniversary. 

Liz Tetlock went to visit the spot where her husband Martyn was buried in Ridgmont Cemetery last week.

But when the 52-year-old arrived she was shocked to find that items at the grave had been taken.

Martyn, who died in August 2020, is buried next to his mother in what Mrs Tetlock described as two “distinct graves".

But matching plant pots had been taken from each of them.

Two ceramic hearts had also been taken as well as two plastic conifer trees.

One was made by her son with the message “number one dad".

However metal roses made by Bolton Hospice, where Martyn stayed before he died, had remained in place.

Mrs Tetlock said: “It was sad enough going to the grave, but to find them missing it was just heartbreaking.

“The worst part was saying it to my son.

“My son was absolutely distressed on Tuesday, he is 21, he is an adult but he is struggling with the death of his father.”

She said after appealing for information she was contacted by someone who said they had seen the “number one dad” ceramic heart.

After going back to the cemetery she said she found it on top of a different gave.

Mrs Tetlock said: “My son was made up.”

Mrs Tetlock, who works at Bolton Hospice, said what she thought had happened.

She said: “Someone has found them and robbed them, it can’t be kids.

“Kids would not mess around and do stuff like this.

“People have noticed the pots and have taken them for the garden.

“It is awful.”