Heartbroken Carol Dixon's floral tributes to her adopted mum were snatched from a graveyard just moments after she said her final goodbye.

Mrs Dixon and daughters Julie and Sue, pictured, were still paying their respects to Alice Clarke at a lunch after the funeral service when wreaths and bouquets were stolen from Nab Wood crematorium.

The Dixons - who 'adopted' Alice as their mother and grandmother when the widow was a neighbour - had hoped to place the special floral arrangements under a tree Alice had planted several years ago.

But now Carol, husband John and her daughters have been left with nothing to put under the tree Alice loved so much.

The mourners had just left the Shipley crematorium, after hearing about 81-year-old Alice's kindness, to head to the nearby Bankfield Hotel for lunch.

But when they returned a short time later all that was left of the tributes in the garden of remembrance they had intended to collect were some 'pearly gates' that had adorned one wreath. Julie, 31, said: "Alice loved flowers and loved going to the garden centres. They were the colours and flowers which were her favourites. It meant a lot. We are all very upset.

"She planted the tree many years ago and even though it was once blown over it grew again. We had planned to take the flowers from the garden of remembrance to put under her own tree.

"We couldn't believe that no sooner had we left them, they had gone. It's terrible."

Mrs Dixon, 49, said Alice was originally a neighbour and they all grew close.

Mrs Dixon, who lives near Cottingley, said: "She was already a widow and when Sue was little, she toddled up Alice's path.

"Later Alice's brother died as well, and she became a mum and grandmother to us.

"We grew closer and closer as a family and even went on holiday together.

"We don't know how anybody could have been so heartless. It was terrible. We couldn't believe it at first, but when we checked with staff they hadn't moved them."

The incident follows the theft from Queensbury Cenotaph three weeks ago of roses which had been left in tribute to former Lord Mayor Harry Mason, who died of motor neurone disease.

Councillor Anne Hawkesworth, executive member for the environment - which includes responsibility for cemeteries - said she was horrified by the theft.

"It is very sad when mourners cannot feel secure that the flowers which they have chosen are not used for the purpose they are planned. These people who steal them must be sick."

And police today issued a plea for everyone to keep a keen eye out for potential thieves.

A police spokesman said: "These are opportunist crimes which cause great distress and upset to people.

"The theft of flowers is an offence and people who commit these offences should be aware they will be brought to court.

"We would ask staff at funerals to be vigilant and report anything suspicious they see to the police."