A distraught mum has spoken of her heartbreak after she discovered the grave of her young daughter had been ‘desecrated’.

Andrea Walker found soil spread on the plot and ornaments broken and scattered. The damage was caused after a new grave was dug no more than a foot away.

Bradford Council apologised for the distress caused and pledged to carry out restoration work.

Mrs Walker discovered the scene of carnage when she called to tend the grave at Morton Cemetery of little Ellie, who died – aged just three – in January 2013.

The tragic tot had contracted streptococcal septicaemia – a form of blood poisoning.

“As I got closer to the grave I realised I couldn’t see her ornaments,” said Mrs Walker, 51, of Bar Lane, Riddlesden.

“She has little meerkat models and windmills and artificial flowers and they were scattered around the grave. They had been fixed in the ground so there’s no way wind could have blown them over.

“One of her angels is broken.

“It looked like someone had been standing on the grave.

“I couldn’t find some of the ornaments at first, because they had got buried in all the mess.

“Soil had been dumped on the grave.

“The new plot is so close I can’t even walk around Ellie’s now, there’s not enough room.

“I contacted the council the next day and it said it would look into it, but I didn’t hear anything. I was so angry, but also upset.

“It’s a young child’s grave. I don’t know how they could do it and be so thoughtless. Five years have passed now since we lost Ellie but I still find it so difficult. Birthdays and anniversaries are particularly hard.”

A council spokesman apologised and said it had now spoken to Mrs Walker.

He added: “The conditions in all cemeteries are extremely challenging at this time of year because of the sodden ground, and there have been a lot of recent burials close to this plot at Morton Cemetery.

“Much restoration work has to be postponed until drier weather in the spring.

“Our staff at all times try to carry out their duties in the most sensitive way possible.

“The adjacent new grave is suffering from subsidence, which we are in the process of correcting to improve the look of the surrounding area.

“We have to allow a certain amount of time for this to settle, otherwise we would be repeatedly filling in small amounts which would lead to further disturbance and damage to the surroundings. We will be contacting Mrs Walker to ensure that this grave is restored and maintained to the best condition.”