An 80-year-old grandmother was left distraught after flowers she left on her mother and father’s graves were removed without warning.

Heidi Morden went with her grandmother Beryl Davidson to St Mary and St Peter Church in Kelsale, near Saxmundham, to place some flowers. But when they arrived they found the existing flowers at the graves were missing.

Miss Morden, 33, of Mill Lane, Campsea Ashe, has written to the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich about the matter.

She said: “My nana was very upset. She’s 80 years old and she used to put real flowers on the grave but because she cannot walk very well we put silk flowers on there as she cannot get there as often as she would like. Surely it’s better to have silk flowers than none.

“She does still mourn her parents. It’s very important for her to remember her parents and that the flowers are on the graves.

“It’s not like the flowers were old and dirty, they cost a lot of money. In my opinion it shows the church is out of touch. I think it was pathetic that they were removed.”

The Reverend Andrew Wolton, rector of Saxmundham with Kelsale cum Carlton, said the flowers, which are near the entrance to the church, had been removed by mistake when a tidy-up had taken place before a wedding ceremony. He said: “We are really sorry that we have caused this upset.

“The flowers have been put back and there was not any decision to take away those particular flowers. Flowers of any sort are encouraged apart from those which are obviously unsightly.”

He said the church rules meant artificial flowers could be removed without notice but silk ones were permitted.