A GRIEVING mum has discovered her baby's grave has been robbed -- just a week after raiders targeted another tragic toddler's memorial.

The mother of 18-month-old Jake McGeough was left heartbroken after a teddy bear was taken from the plot where he was laid to rest in August. Jake was buried at Pleasington Cemetery six weeks after he died at Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool.

His mum Keira, 24, of Leicester Road, Blackburn, has not yet been able to buy a permanent memorial for baby Jake, who would have celebrated his second birthday on December 8, but has erected a temporary wooden headstone with his name on.

Keira said: "The board had been turned around and the present I got him for his birthday had gone. I don't know how anybody could have done something like this, especially to a child."

Jake's death sparked a major inquiry by police and hospital bosses, which is still ongoing. The Royal Liverpool Children's Trust admitted negligence and two nurses have been suspended. They are currently awaiting to hear if they face criminal charges after files were passed to the Criminal Prosecution Service. Keira and partner Wayne Knight said the distress of finding his grave robbed was almost too much to bear.

She said: "I think it's disgusting. I put some more presents on at Christmas, I just hope that when I go up today they will still be there."

The theft comes a little more than a week after the grave of tragic toddler Kirsty Wright was robbed, again at Pleasington Cemetery. Two-year-old Kirsty drowned in a swimming pool accident in October while on a family holiday in the Greek resort of Kos.

And earlier in the year a spate of similar thefts have occurred at graves across East Lancashire prompting MPs to call for action.

Blackburn with Darwen Council said it does all it can to prevent such incidents.

The bereavement counselling service Cruse, which has branches in East Lancashire, said the stress of these thefts on the families could harm the healing process.

Tom Wilson, head of outdoor amenities at Blackburn with Darwen Council said: "It is a difficult situation as this is a public place and there does need to be unrestricted access during the day so that people can visit their loved ones' graves. These are unfortunate and highly emotive incidents, which, thankfully, are few and far between.

"The gates of the cemetery are locked every day at dusk by security guards who look out for anyone acting suspiciously. "The staff at the crematorium are extra vigilant and will report anyone acting suspiciously. These incidents have been reported to the police who are investigating."

Rossendale and Darwen MP Janet Anderson, said: "We have had a spate of these thefts in Darwen and I know just how much distress it causes to the families concerned.

"I hope the culprits are quickly apprehended and brought to justice."

And Blackburn MP Jack Straw added: "It's obviously a concern to hear about this. I cannot make any further comments until I have more details but I shall be looking into it."

Debbie Cunliffe, vice-chairman of Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Cruse Bereavement Care Service, said: "At Christmas time, many families wish to remember those who have died by placing flowers, toys and gifts on graves.

"The Lancashire Evening Telegraph has recently highlighted occasions when parents have been distraught. I have no doubt that theft from graves happens throughout the country, and it is very sad that there are those who are reduced to such a crime, with little thought for those who have already suffered a great loss."