A WALLINGFORD family shocked and distressed when they found earth from a new grave dumped on a relative's monument have received an apology - and a promise that it will not happen again.

May Smith, from St George's Road, Wallingford, said: "It was awful. Whoever dug the grave had shown absolutely no respect for the dead or for relatives' feelings.

"The earth had been dumped on our family's grave and on others alongside. It was an utter disgrace."

It was spotted over the weekend when Alf 'Chipper' Smith, 83, paid his regular visit to the grave of his late wife, Theresa.

He said: "I couldn't find it at first. A new grave had been dug and the earth had been dumped all over her grave.

"I was very shocked and very upset.

"There is absolutely no excuse for this to have happened - no respect was shown at all."

And when the family met officers from South Oxfordshire District Council at the cemetery to discuss what had happened, Mr Smith was so upset he could not go into the place.

His sister, Flo Galliford, said: "He has been as near to tears as I've ever seen him. He was very distressed."

Mr Smith's nephew, Graham Galliford, said: "I regarded it as no better than the desecration of a grave."

Mr Smith and his sisters have been noted fundraisers in Wallingford for leukaemia research for several years, and Mr Smith is noted for the carvings and bird tables he makes to sell for the charity.

John Backley, technical projects officer for South Oxfordshire District Council which operates the cemetery, said: "We are very sorry that this has happened.

"It was very distressing for the family and we do apologise for this. We are rethinking how we and our contractors operate in the cemetery and will do our utmost to make sure this never happens again.

"The family's grave was not damaged as protecting covers were put over it before the earth was deposited on it.

"But we realise that people see this as disrespectful and whenever possible the practice will cease.

"But there are some places where the graves are so close together it is not possible to get even a wheelbarrow between them and so the workmen cannot move the earth away.

"We are changing our procedures so as not to cause any more distress to other people."

Mr Smith said: "I am glad they are looking at things differently and that other families will not have this distress in the future."