A FURIOUS woman has branded Bradford Council "inhumane" for the way in which it removed a floral tribute to her partner's mother at a Shipley cemetery.

Teresa Germaine, of Vale Mill Lane, Haworth, claims the tribute to her partner Christine Unwin's mother, Olive Pearson, was dumped on a rubbish tip at Nab Wood Cemetery, Bingley Road.

But the Council said the tribute had in fact been left in an outdoor storage area with a collection of other unauthorised items, not on a rubbish tip.

The pink artificial flower holder, which contained artificial red roses and had 'Special Mother' written on it had been left under a fir tree in the garden of remembrance at the site since Mrs Pearson died in January this year.

But when Miss Germaine and her partner went to the garden of remembrance to pay their respects on Thursday, August 28, they were shocked to see the tribute had been removed.

John Scholefield, Bradford Council’s Bereavement and Amenities Manager, said: “We would like to apologise to the couple who were upset by the treatment of the memorial to their loved one.

“The Gardens of Remembrance associated with our crematoria are communal areas for cremated remains.

“We do not permit unauthorised memorials in these gardens out of respect for all those whose loved ones are at rest there.

“We regularly take away such memorials and place them in outdoor storage giving the owners chance to collect them before disposal. "This vase and flowers were left with a collection of other unauthorised items, not on a rubbish tip."