VANDALS struck at Uplyme Cemetery and ‘callously’ destroyed flowers growing in the ground.

Distressed relatives discovered that daffodil leaves and buds growing in the cemetery had been deliberately mowed off.

The incident happened over the weekend of January 19 and 20 and the parish council is appealing for information.

Parish clerk Lois Wakeman said: “Normally, relatives of those in the cemetery can enjoy a splash of colour both sides of the path each spring, but this year, all they will see are the sad remains of the leaves. “The council has already had a letter from a distressed relative.

“We are at a loss to understand why anyone would do something so callous – it has caused much sadness to the bereaved and we won’t know until next spring whether the bulbs will have enough strength to survive.

“What is really puzzling is that whoever did it collected all the waste and took it away with them, and the task needed three precise cuts of a mower to destroy all the daffodils – so it must have taken quite a while to do and yet no-one has reported anything suspicious.

“Our contractor was there on the Friday morning emptying the bins ready for collection, but wasn’t doing any grass cutting that day because the ground was so wet.”

Mrs Wakeman said the incident has been reported to police by are ‘not prepared to take action’.

She added: “If anyone knows who did this, please contact me, or call the police on 101.”

Mrs Wakeman can be contacted on 01297 444707 or clerk@uplymeparishcouncil.org