The family of a tragic toddler say they are devastated after flowers and mementoes went missing from her grave.

Silk flowers, ceramic ladybirds and toy windmills have vanished from the grave of 18-month-old Charlotte Cheetham - nicknamed Lottie Ladybird.

And to add to the family's trauma, they say cars have been driven within inches of the grave in Otley Cemetery.

Now Leeds City Council is appealing for people to act as watchdogs and report any thefts or vandalism.

Charlotte's mother, Tracey Jackson, 29, of Meagill Rise, Otley, said at least six toys and bunches of silk flowers had been taken from the grave since Charlotte died in February.

"I think it's awful and it really upsets me. People must be sick if they are doing things like this," she said.

Charlotte was just weeks old when she contracted a cold-sore virus which proved deadly because she had no natural immunity, leading to fits and incurable brain damage.

After Charlotte started having fits and developed spots on her back, Tracey and dad Nicholas Cheetham took her to hospital where doctors feared she would die within 24 hours.

But she lived for another 17 months - despite being on morphine for pain, having to be fed through a tube and spending much of her time in hospital or at the Martin House Hospice in Boston Spa.

Grandmother Elaine Cheetham said someone from the family visited Charlotte's grave every day and were horrified that items had gone missing.

Mrs Cheetham said: "People are driving into the cemetery in their cars and going right beside the graves where they just shouldn't go. I think it's awful, they've no respect.''

A Council leisure services spokesman said: "We have provided footpaths in the new section of the cemetery to give people easy access to all the grave sites.

"These paths were not intended for the public to drive to grave sites and we do ask visitors to the cemetery to leave their cars in the parking area provided and to walk to individual graves.''

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