A MOTHER has told how the grave of her baby daughter was damaged after cemetery workers tipped mud near the site and dislodged the headstone.

Katie Peacock buried Jessica Booth at West Cemetery, Darlington, in May 2006 and decorates the site with flowers, ornaments and sentimental objects to keep her memory alive.

But after initially enjoying the "peaceful" surroundings in the five years after her burial she has since encountered several incidents of damage.

The mother-of-three says the latest incident two weeks ago saw her daughters headstone dislodged from its foundations and piles of mud were strewn around nearby graves after workers dug a new grave behind.

"Jessica's grave is always neat and tidy but when we came everything was piled up covered in mud - it was horrible," Ms Peacock said while surveying the site.

"It was beyond anything I ever imagined and I just sat here on my own crying. It's not the first time something like this has happened."

Reports of misplaced headstones and piles of soil obstructing sentimental memorials were reported by The Northern Echo last month and Ms Peacock said she has heard of numerous complaints similar to her situation.

Read more: Council vows to clean up damage at West Cemetery, Darlington

The council have recently vowed to clean the cemetery after work installing new telephone lines damaged some grave sites.

The Northern Echo: Damage to headstones at West CemeteryDamage to headstones at West Cemetery

Ms Peacock, her two sons and daughter, regularly visit Jessica's shrine they call "her garden" and often add new decorations depending on the seasons.

"There was mud everywhere," Ms Peacock said of the site before she cleaned it with her daughter.

"There were two cemetery workers around and I asked them what had happened and they said 'don't worry we didn't put mud on her we just drove on her'.

"At this point I said that's not any better, you've driven over a baby's body. They said they could 'chuck some mud on her' but they just didn't understand."

Ms Peacock said Jessica's grave and cemetery was chosen due to its "beautiful" location but has battled with staff for 15 years.

She said: "At no point we were ever told that if somebody was buried behind they would just move the headstone.

"We've had ornaments damaged, a little fence was ripped up, we were told that objects weren't allowed and we've had things stolen from the site. It's just the utmost disrespect for people and their families.

"This is all I've got left of my baby. For a little while it was very calm and peaceful but for the last five years I've dreaded coming up."

Ms Peacock called on the council to listen and work with those raising concerns as she admitted Jessica "isn't being laid to rest" due to the disruption.

When questioned by The Northern Echo, Darlington Council said a representative is due to meet with Ms Peacock to address her concerns.

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