COUNCIL chiefs have hit back at grieving relatives angry at the removal of treasured mementos at Oakworth Crematorium.

Bradford Council has accused some relatives of “taking over” the communal Garden of Remembrance with mementos such as lanterns, plastic flowers and photos.

Some had even fenced off parts of the shared space to create their own personal tributes, with one person digging up grass to expose the bare earth.

Statements issued by the Council this week stressed that gardens of remembrance were communal spaces where the ashes of many people’s loved ones were scattered.

The Council said: “We feel we are obliged to keep this precious area as a collective space for everyone and not to have it apportioned for individuals. We tidied the gardens and put items on one side for families to collect. We left them tidily but as people come along to collect them, other mementos may have been disturbed.”

The Council said it put up signs several months ago asking people to remove unauthorised tributes from the “peaceful” area.

The Council’s Bereavement Officer accepted that enforcement of the rules was distressing for some people, but said it was also distressing for people who did not leave such tributes.

The officer added: “The situation led to complaints from families who are following the rules.”

The mementos included soft toys, ornaments, crosses, lanterns and vases.

The Council issued its strong response after grieving relatives, shocked to find their tributes removed, took to Facebook to criticise the policy. More than 290 people signed a petition in protest.

One mourner, Dawn Manley, said she was horrified to find the Council had removed flower holders and stone hearts marking the spot where she scattered her mother’s ashes seven years ago.

Dawn said: “I’m so angry and upset. Bradford Council should be ashamed of themselves, seeing everyone’s belongings is heartbreaking.”

Another mourner said: “I had to rummage through to find things myself and my family placed under an apple tree planted 19 years ago when my dad passed away. We are heartbroken.”

The Council spokesman said relatives regularly placed mementos, pictures, vases and flowers by graves in cemeteries.

He said: “These are obviously precious to people and cemetery staff are careful not to disturb them unless they are dangerous or inappropriate. When it comes to a Gardens of Remembrance at crematoria, these are shared spaces where families cannot have a specific plot.”