A HEARTBROKEN widower has called for security cameras to be installed at a church in Little Lever after thieves stole flowers from his wife's grave.

Ray Murgatroyd, aged 72, left a wicker basket of flowers on the grave of his late wife Sylvia at St Matthews Church, Little Lever, to mark her 70th birthday last Friday.

But two hours later he returned to the churchyard with other members of his family to discover the basket had been stolen.

Mr Murgatroyd of Hayward Avenue, Little Lever, now wants security to be stepped up at the Market Street church.

He said: "Whoever did this is just despicable. Anything left in the graveyard is sacred and should not be touched. The people who stole the basket have left my whole family devastated. What right minded person would want to steal from a grave?"

The basket, which contained flowers and an ivy plant, had been bought by Mr Murgatroyd's granddaughter Anne Marie Mahon on the birthday of her grandmother.

Mrs Murgatroyd died in May last year from a heart attack, aged 68.

The couple had been married for 47 years. Just ten weeks later their 43-year-old daughter Linda Christine Mahon died from a heart attack.

Both mother and daughter are buried together at the church.

Mr Murgatroyd has spoken to the vicar, Father John Wiseman, about improving security at the church.

Father Wiseman, said: "It is unfortunate and very sad that people are doing this. Improving security would be a matter for the Church Council."