A FAMILY are devastated after thieves stole the headstone of their mother.

Grandfather-of-five Mark Gregson was horrified to discover the joint headstone of his mother, Joan Corbett and stepfather, Douglas Corbett, had vanished when a relative went to lay flowers at the churchyard, in Bramley, on May 9.

Mark, who suffers from Spina Bifida and lives in Chopin Road, Brighton Hill, told The Gazette: “You don’t expect something like a headstone to be stolen. We didn’t have insurance because we couldn’t afford it.

“We are very upset and very angry. We have got no idea who has it. We can’t believe it has gone, all the family is devastated. My daughter is really upset as she was very close to her nan and grandad.”

Joan passed away in St Helens, Lancashire, on November 30 last year after she had moved to the area in September to be close to her other son, Trevor.

The 79-year-old had lived in Bramley for 30 years, and her husband Douglas, who died in 1995, is buried in the village, so the family decided to move her ashes to St James’ Church, in Bramley to be with him.

The family paid £2,000 for the joint headstone, which is made from slate black granite and has gold writing engraved on it.

Mark, a 58-year-old father-of-two, said: “We brought her back down here to be with her husband.”

He added: “There is no value to it and the only value is for the family. I just want it to be back and for my mum to be happy.”

A spokesman for Hampshire Constabulary said: “Police received a report that a headstone was removed from a grave at St James’ Church, in Silchester Road, Bramley sometime between May 1 and May 16.

“All lines of inquiry have been followed, however, if anyone has any further information that could assist the investigation, they can call us on 101, quoting 44150164748.”