Vandals scatter woman's ashes

The lid of the ashes' casket is still missing

A family has been left distraught after vandals unearthed a woman's ashes in a graveyard.

The headstone was removed from the grave of Frank and Margaret Foster, at St Thomas' Churchyard, at Stockton Heath in Warrington.

Vandals then unearthed Mrs Foster's remains, and scattered her ashes close to the grave. The lid to the casket is still missing.

Police believe the incident happened some time last Friday.

Family 'upset'

A spokeswoman for Cheshire Police, said: "Needless to say the surviving relatives of the Foster family are very, very upset by what happened at the grave.

"They are hoping very strongly that this offence will be detected, and that people will come forward with the name of offender or offenders who have desecrated this grave."

The missing casket lid is six-inches square. It is decorated with a silver plaque bearing Mrs Foster's name and the date 14 December 2000.