A DISTRAUGHT family has spoken of its distress at discovering that ornamental features on a loved one's gravestone have been stolen.

Callous thieves struck at Padgate CE churchyard, stealing two lifesize marble doves from the shared grave of a couple.

Mandy Judson's brother Anthony Johnson and his fiance Anne Marie Donlan were killed in a road accident in 1987. For 15 years both families have regularly visited the grave to mourn their loved ones and lay flowers.

But Mandy's mum was devastated to discover that the doves, which symbolised the eternal love of the couple, had been stolen.

Mandy said: "My mum is distraught that someone could have done this - she's absolutely heartbroken. The doves were attached by cement so this is the work of a strong person. I can't believe that an adult would have done this so it is probably down to some prank or dare carried out by teenagers that hang around the area."

She added: "We have all been young and have all done things that we shouldn't, but never throughout my youth did it ever occur to me, or my friends, to steal from or deface gravestones."

And Mandy is pleading with parents of youngsters to speak to them about the heartbreak caused by these actions. She said: "As a responsible parent of two children, if you do one thing today, could you please spend two minutes explaining the rights and wrongs of behaviour in a church yard and the heartbreak it causes the bereaved when they find that the grave of their loved ones has been demolished."

Contact Guardian reporter Sarah Harker on 01925 434109 if you know the whereabouts of the two white marble doves.

Callous thieves struck at Padgate CE churchyard, stealing two lifesize marble doves from the shared grave of a couple.

Mandy Judson's brother Anthony Johnson and his fiance Anne Marie Donlan were killed in a road accident in 1987. For 15 years both families have regularly visited the grave to mourn their loved ones and lay flowers.

But Mandy's mum was devastated to discover that the doves, which symbolised the eternal love of the couple, had been stolen.

Mandy said: "My mum is distraught that someone could have done this - she's absolutely heartbroken. The doves were attached by cement so this is the work of a strong person. I can't believe that an adult would have done this so it is probably down to some prank or dare carried out by teenagers that hang around the area."

She added: "We have all been young and have all done things that we shouldn't, but never throughout my youth did it ever occur to me, or my friends, to steal from or deface gravestones."

And Mandy is pleading with parents of youngsters to speak to them about the heartbreak caused by these actions. She said: "As a responsible parent of two children, if you do one thing today, could you please spend two minutes explaining the rights and wrongs of behaviour in a church yard and the heartbreak it causes the bereaved when they find that the grave of their loved ones has been demolished."

Contact Guardian reporter Sarah Harker on 01925 434109 if you know the whereabouts of the two white marble doves.