A WIDOW was left in tears when she visited her late husband's grave to find it covered in mounds of recently excavated earth.

Ann Dobbs, a mother of eight from Old Hereford Road, Abergavenny went to visit her late husband Tony's grave at Llanfoist Cemetery on Sunday, July 11 - as she does every Sunday.

"When I got there all I could see was a gigantic mound of dirt. I was so shocked - at first I thought they had dug my husband's grave up. It was an awful experience.

"I didn't tell my children but they could see I was very upset when I got home. When I told them they couldn't believe it. It's set us all back - we're still grieving."

Mr Dobbs died aged 71 in June last year after losing his battle with cancer.

Monmouthshire County Council has explained that the soil had been placed on Mr Dobb's grave as a temporary measure while an adjacent plot was excavated but for Mrs Dobbs it is cold comfort.

"I just don't want it to happen to anyone else. I hope nobody has to go through what my family have been through.

"The people who work at the cemetery should know a Sunday is when people tend to go to the cemetery to pay their respect.

"Even friends have stopped me in the street and strangers approached me and said they couldn't believe it.

"We are still grieving for Tony. There was so much room around his grave no-one needed to pile earth on to it and it should not have happened and should not happen to anyone else.

"I contacted the council and they said it was policy - I believe that policy needs changing."

Following her complaint to council officers at Abergavenny, Mrs Dobbs received a letter of apology from Monmouthshire County Council.:

"Unfortunately when we excavate graves we are instructed to deposit the excavated spoil on an adjacent grave, this procedure has always been carried out in all four of our active cemeteries," said the letter signed by council officer Nigel Leaworthy.

"I have inspected the photographs you have sent and I have spoken with the Sexton. It is evident that prior to carrying out the excavations the Sexton has put boarding over the grave to protect the surface; I have also noticed that the headstone is also clean of debris.

"The spoil was deposited onto the grave due to the fact that it is an end plot. Therefore accessing the spoil to backfill the excavated grave is less damaging to other graves.

"May I apologise for any duress (sic) caused," said Mr Leaworthy.