Police are investigating after a theft from a cemetery.

A widow reported that a pot about 40cm high containing a well established holly bush and personal ornaments had been taken from her husband’s grave in Peel cemetery.

A memorial bench in the Raggatt near Peel also had various silk flowers cut from it and taken, as well as further ornaments.

The lady emailed officers to say: ’I’m sure it seems a very small irrelevant matter in the grand scheme of your police work, but it’s not the first incident and sadly probably not the last.

’It’s not about the financial value of anything, all the items are perfectly replaceable, it’s more about the disrespectful manner in which someone has intentionally taken something left as a memento for someone who is no longer with us.

’I’ve not been able to go back to his bench at the Raggatt because seeing it bare will be a horrible blow.

’The bench has always brought comfort, because I can remember happy times down there, now it just feels sad.’