A GRIEVING mother is calling for improved security at Bury Cemetery after thieves stole birthday presents from the grave of her teenage daughter.

Alison Morris, of Mellor Drive, Bury, lost 15-year-old Charlotte to Epstein-Barr virus in February, and left family gifts at the plot to mark the date of her birthday on June 4.

The items included teddy bears, windchimes, fairy figures and a plaque. All the presents, along with a foot-high photograph of Castlebrook pupil Charlotte, were stolen from the grave on Wednesday night.

Mrs Morris said: "The only thing I wanted for myself and my family was a place of peace and tranquillity where we felt we could pay our respects and think about her. I do not have that any more, it has been spoilt.

"You try to protect your children in life and now you can't protect them in death. I don't think that these people realise the hurt that they cause. It feels like a personal attack."

Mrs Morris added: "We need a security patrol, even if they only go along a few times each night to show their faces and move people on who shouldn't be there."

Head of parks and cemeteries Neil Long said that patrols would be alerted and urged people to report suspicious incidents at the cemetery.

He said: "The council does have a mobile security force that works throughout the evenings and weekends that covers all of its properties. Where there are incidents reported or known hotspots, we will increase security in that area.

"If people do see anything that looks suspicious at the cemetery, we would encourage them to report this to the police or our security team."

Bury Council security can be contacted on 253 6639.