HEARTBROKEN parents have just 21 days to permanently clear their babies' graves of loving ornaments.
Letters have been sent to bereaved parents who have buried their babies in North East Lincolnshire Council-owned cemeteries telling them they must remove all decorations from the graves.
If the ornaments – including plastic windmills, teddies and potted plants – aren't removed within three weeks, the council will take them away themselves.
Council bosses say the headstones must be cleared to "enable the area around graves to be seeded and maintained" and that policy is in line with other local authority's regulations – including neighbouring North Lincolnshire and East Riding.
Memorial items are, however, allowed on the plinth.
And they have stressed that they are "fully aware of the sensitivities of this issue", but that it is their duty to make sure cemeteries remain in a suitable condition for all visitors.
It comes as devastated mum, Laura Taylor, 27, has this week launched a petition against the council's ban on the princess castle design headstone for her daughter, Grace Isabel Taylor, who died when she was just six months old.
One grieving mother, who did not wish to be named, contacted the Grimsby Telegraph after reading Laura's article.
She received her letter 12 weeks after the death of her daughter, who passed away just hours after birth.
The 23-year-old, from Eastern Inway, Grimsby, finds great comfort in visiting her plot with her three-year-old daughter.
She said: "I can't believe they want us to do it.
"We go every day, so do my sisters and my mum. It has been a comfort to all of us, it is where we go to see her.
"We haven't got her here, so we go there.
"My three-year-old goes down there and sorts her flowers out. She calls it her little sister's special place."
Plot regulations are included when you buy the deeds to a grave, which costs about £600.
The mother continued: "I signed the regulations three days after my daughter had died – I would have signed anything. My head was a mess.
"As long as they are kept clean and tidy I don't see why we are not allowed to decorate them."
It has also upset the baby's grandmother, who added: "When my granddaughter was born, she was 8.6lb. You don't expect a baby that healthy to die.
"We have few memories of her alive, so we need a place where we can go."
Tony Neul, head of Neighbourhood Services for North East Lincolnshire Council, said: "We are fully aware of the sensitivities of this issue, but we have to ensure cemeteries are in a suitable condition for all who visit to pay their respects.
"As such and in common with other local authorities, we have certain regulations on what graveside articles are permitted and which grave deed owners are made aware of and have to agree to prior to burial.
"The letter which has been sent out is a simple, polite reminder of that agreement to enable the area around graves to be seeded and maintained for everyone visiting our cemeteries."
As reported, Laura Taylor's petition, called Let Grace Have Her Princess Castle Headstone, has so far had more than 1,000 signatures.
It has gained support from readers of the Grimsby Telegraph and visitors to our website, www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk
Laura's friend, Fiona Scullard, hit out at criticism, posting online: "My son is in Scartho Cemetery and he has a beautiful star headstone with points on that was approved by NELC.
"My son died in 2008 and his headstone was erected in June 2009, just after his first anniversary.
"Let me ask how much do you all spend on your children each year? Thousands? Well Grace isn't here anymore and her family would like to do the last thing they can for her.
"We don't go for headstones that are 'chavvy' or for our own gratification; we chose something that symbolises our child.
"My son was my star so he got a star. Grace was Laura and Paul's princess, so they want a princess castle headstone."
Let us know your views viewpoint@grimsbytelegraph.co.ukFROM THE COUNCIL'S LETTERSorry to have to write to you to you on this sensitive matter, however, we are unable to carry out levelling, grass cutting and seeding work that is necessary to the row of grave spaces in this section of the cemetery simply because there are currently floral and other items on grave spaces, including your own. You will see gardens are not permitted but there are several types of memorial suggestions that you may wish to consider. However, these must be located on the concrete plynth at the head of the grave in order for us to maintain the area infront. We would therefore request that you remove these items mentioned from your grave to enable levelling work to be carried out. This will be carried out in 21 days and any items remaining on the grave space will be removed without further notice.