A FAMILY who came to pay their respects at their mother's grave in Swanage say they were "gobsmacked" to find it covered by a mound of earth.

Swanage resident Winifred Handley passed away at the end of June and many of her family made the 350-mile round trip from Cambridge to visit her grave for the first time last weekend.

But they were horrified to find the grave at Godlingston cemetery under a pile of earth which, they claim, was created from the digging of another plot next to it.

Son Evan Grant says he is considering legal action against Swanage Town Council for what he considers desecration of his mother's grave.

"It is totally disgusting and we are gobsmacked," said a distraught Mr Grant.

"What they have done is unbelievable.

"My mum lived in Swanage for 25 years and this was to be her final resting place. Her last wish was to be buried in the cemetery in Swanage.

"We made a five-hour drive and brought a £50 bouquet of flowers to pay our respects, but when we arrived there was just this big mound of earth."

Mr Grant said that to exacerbate the insult, on the other side to the freshly dug plot is a 50-yard stretch of empty space that could have easily accommodated the pile of earth.

Alan Leeson, clerk of Swanage Town Council, said the council would be investigating the complaints.

He added: "I can understand why the family is upset.

"We do have a proper complaints procedure and while this is the first complaint I have ever received of this kind, if I am contacted by the family then I will convey my concerns if normal procedures were not being followed."