A DISTRAUGHT son and daughter have attacked Bury Cemetery bosses after a tractor caused damage to their father's grave.

Now, an inquiry is under way to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident which has shocked Mrs Marie McDonald and her brother, Mr Tony Dutka.

They say during last week's torrential rain a vehicle ran over the grave of their late father, Mr Theo Dutka, trampling plants, leaving tyre tracks and causing a 3ft garden area to sag.

Mrs McDonald, of Victoria Park, Whitefield, said she and her brother were shocked to discover the damage. They have now lodged a complaint with Bury Competitive Services which is responsible for maintaining the cemetery.

"The graveside was in a terrible state. We were allowed a 3ft area at the graveside for a garden and a vehicle had gone right over it, damaging plants and causing the area to sink down a bit. There were also tyre tracks left behind."

She added: "The people responsible for this obviously have no respect for those laid to rest there. I am sure they wouldn't like such a thing to happen to their family.

"The whole thing is quite sickening and we're disgusted by the damage, although thankfully my father's headstone was all right."

The family has reinstated the grave and replanted flowers and has tidied up the mess left by the tractor.

Mr Martin Hall, Bury Competitive Services head of client services, said during last week's heavy rain a tractor machine used for excavation had travelled over a number of graves to get access to another.

"In my view, that shouldn't have been done," he added. "The ground was particularly bad and those responsible didn't take any protection. We are now in the process of reinstating this and other graves."

Mr Hall went on: "We have started an investigation into why the tractor approached the grave from that particular point with a view to ensuring that such an incident will not happen again.

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