A GRIEVING mum has spoken of her heartache after being told to strip her baby daughter’s grave of sentimental items – due to council regulations.

Laura Kirby-Deacon’s daughter Iashia, was tragically stillborn at just 31 weeks on December 6, 2011 and the child’s ashes were buried at Kingsdown Crematorium on what would have been her first birthday a year later.

But Laura, 38, from Coleview, was stunned when she received a letter from Swindon Borough Council stating items on the grave did not comply with cemetery rules and would be removed.

The nurse started a petition voicing her opposition to the rules, which has garnered more than 3,500 signatures, and is set to meet the council over the ultimatum.

“I don’t get the chance to take my daughter out to play, to have ice-cream, to spend a day with her and our family,” she said.

“This is the only time we get to spend with her and we’re not harming anyone.

“Swindon Borough Council has recently sent me a letter informing me that as Kingsdown Cemetery is becoming more established and is located in peaceful, natural surroundings, the cemetery will be removing anything that doesn’t fit with the regulations.”

The letter comes with a lengthy list of items that are not allowed on graves which includes windmills, vases, toys, plants, and picture frames.

Permissible items include silk flowers, cards – for two weeks only – and plastic vases.

Laura has placed windmills, flowers and stick ornaments on her baby’s grave but under the rules of the letter she has until April 15 to remove them.

She said: “It makes me feel sick that stuff could be removed. It’s not harming anyone. It’s a way of paying tribute to my daughter.”

Laura said she regularly visits the grave with husband Kevin and two-year-old daughter Surshia.

“It’s important for her to come so she would understand growing up about her big sister and almost get to know her.”

And she says she wants the council to be more open-minded about items that can be placed on graves.

“All I want is for the council to revise the list of items. About 90 per cent of graves in the cemetery have toys or flowers on them. It helps me to see them there and there is no risk to health and safety,” she added.

David Renard, leader of Swindon Borough Council, said the council is willing to meet Laura to discuss changes but for now the rules will remain.

“The general facts are for the people who use the cemetery and crematorium that there are some rules that they sign up to when they want a burial and these rules apply to everybody,” he said.

“Everybody has to be treated equally. If we bend the rules for one person we have to bend the rules for everybody," he said. "The rules that we have put in place are regularly reviewed which has led to us keeping the rules as they are. We’re happy to meet with this lady and review our list of rules.”

A spokesman for Swindon Borough Council said: “We know this is an emotive issue and people have different opinions, but our policy is in line with what most people tell us they want us to do.

“We therefore have to ask everyone who buys the right to bury in a grave plot at the Kingsdown cemetery to keep to the regulations they have signed up to.

“We are quite happy to see tributes on graves for a month or so after the burial, and once they have been removed, a small garden area in front of a headstone for seasonal flowers and small memorial vases is still permitted.”

To view Laura’s petition visit www.change.org/p/swindon-borough-council-permit-my-daughters-windmills-on-her-grave