A distressed widow has issued a warning to pensioners after forking out £450 for work that was never carried out on her husband's grave.

Pensioner Patricia Dempsey of Moorbottom, Cleckheaton, thought Manchester-based Grave Care would help her tend Michael Dempsey's grave at Bowling Cemetery.

She saved up the money and employed them to clean the headstone, replace the lead lettering, add a central marble flower pot and maintain the plot for a year.

But weeks later, all the firm had done was put in ten bedding plants - costing just a few pounds - leaving the stone and its inscription illegible.

Now, after being contacted by the Telegraph & Argus, Grave Care has apologised for the delay and agreed to refund some of her money.

Mrs Dempsey told the T&A: "I think it is pathetic. The whole idea was to have the headstone cleaned. I have washed it and can't get it cleaned because it is marble. It is the first time I have ever paid in advance but I thought it would be all right because I had seen it in the Catholic Post."

Now she wants to warn other people only to pay up after the work has been done.

John Grady, editor of the Catholic Post which is distributed in the Leeds Diocese, said the newspaper would not be accepting adverts from the firm again following two complaints. "I think it's appalling that they should advertise in the Catholic Post and prey on older people who can ill afford it and then not do the work."

West Yorkshire Trading Standards officer Graham Hebblethwaite said: "It's dreadful. She is entitled to her money back."

Dennis Fisher, of Grave Care Service Ltd, apologised for the delays, saying it was due to subcontractors and the weather. He promised to complete the lettering and cleaning work in January and refund £85 before Christmas.

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