A PENSIONER has been left confused and angry after crematorium staff visited a number of graves, including that of his son, and removed sentimental ornaments and keepsakes.

Brian Sweeney and his wife Carole visited Beckenham Crematorium and Cemetery on Tuesday (February 16) to lay flowers on their son Peter’s grave.

But they quickly realised a vase was missing along with other trinkets, lanterns and ornaments normally decorating other graves and nearby trees.

The pair, who live in Caygill Close, Bromley, then spotted crematorium staff collecting up a variety of personal items in the cemetery.

Mr Sweeney says he was given no notice that staff would be collecting his vase and is still at a loss as to why his and other personal items were removed.

The 72-year-old said: “I’m really upset about it and I am sure a lot of other people will be upset too.

“Crematorium staff were collecting the ornaments up in a completely arbitrary fashion.

“I’m at a loss to understand why they have done this.”

He added: “If we didn’t see the staff collecting the items we would have thought someone had pinched our vase.”

Dignity run the private crematorium and cemetery in Elmers End Road, Beckenham. The company owns 30 crematoriums across the UK.

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A spokesman argued there were signs at the cemetery warning families to limit the number of tributes they leave.

He added: “We have received a number of complaints from families about the amount and types of mementoes being left in the cemetery.

“Some of these tributes have encroached onto the graves and memorial plaques of others, whilst the floral tributes that were left before Christmas have now decayed.

“When our staff have felt it necessary to remove tributes they have kept these at the crematorium office for the families to collect.”

Mr and Mrs Sweeney say they visit their son’s grave every week and knew nothing of the impending clean up.

Their son died in 2002 at the age of 36 after losing his fight with cancer.

Mr Sweeney said: “I went into the crematorium office and had a row with the manager.

“There is going to be an awful lot of people that are not going to know where their possessions have gone."

Have your personal items been moved off a grave at the cemetery in Beckenham? Or maybe you have experienced the same thing elsewhere? Contact Scott Mullins on 01689 885732 or email smullins@london.newsquest.co.uk.