PERSONAL memorials left by bereaved parents at their babies grave will be removed from a Swindon cemetery.

The decision to enforce regulations at Whitworth road cemetery was made by councillors at a meeting of the transport, environment and neighbourhood services commission.

It means families will be told to stop placing teddies, dolls, windmills and other markers which are currently banned.

Under the rule nothing may be added to the official grave markers which are simple wooden crosses.

Anybody who breaches the rules will be sent a letter asking them to remove the items voluntarily. If they are not removed, cemetery staff will dispose of them.

The decision was made against protest from the public gallery.

Julie Porter, from Grange Park, said enforcing the regulations would serve only to heighten her grief and pain. Her daughter Kyra Jane, who was stillborn, is buried at the cemetery.

Ms Porter said: "What this comes down to is grief and emotion. It is not a subject that should be bound in red tape. I do not want to see my gifts desecrated."

She told councillors that while other parents were busy wrapping Christmas presents for their children, she took solace in buying and leaving gifts at Kyra's grave.

"You are taking away the only thing left that we can do for our babies," she said.

Councillors watched a slide presentation which highlighted the difficulties faced by maintenance workers. The meeting heard that removing the restrictions would add £25,000 to the council's budget to employ an extra member of staff and buy smaller grass cutting machinery.

After passing the motion to uphold the regulations, Coun Jemima Milton (Con, Wroughton and Chiseldon) addressed the three families in the gallery and asked them to consult with the council and explore other ways of showing their grief at the cemetery.

She suggested marking off a set area where parents could lay memorials without them interfering with maintenance.

Coun Ian Dobie (Con, Hardon Wick) said "It's a very difficult and emotive issue but by not enforcing regulations we would upset parents who do adhere to the rules."