A vicar has apologised after sentimental items placed on graves were removed so the church could conform to regulations.

Families and friends visiting their lost loved ones at Ospringe Church were stunned to find that statues, vases and artificial flowers had been taken away, some thinking that vandals or thieves had struck.

But their shock has turned to anger and upset after they found out that their memorials had been removed because of “bureaucratic” rules brought in by the Diocese of Canterbury.

The 2014 churchyard regulations have been described by Eileen Smith, who buried her father there when she was just 16, as “incredibly insensitive”.

Her parents, Daisy and Charles, were laid next to each other and Mrs Smith and her husband, John, have been tending the grave weekly for the last 50 years.

More than 20 years ago, Mr and Mrs Smith, both 68 and now living in Dargate, placed a small angel statue on top of the resting place, but arrived this week to find the figure had been taken, alongside fresh pot plants and artificial flowers.

Mum-of-three Mrs Smith said: “That angel has not moved in all this time. We were shocked to find the plants and the angel gone.

“Nobody has spoken to us about it, so we thought it may be vandals or kids mucking around.

“They say that a poster was put up on the noticeboard, but we come up here and come straight to the grave, so we wouldn’t be looking out for it.

“There has not been enough warning and, quite frankly, we are not going to stop putting our plants and items there now. If they take them away, we will put them back. My family come here to remember my mum and dad and we won’t let them ruin it.”

Mr Smith said he was told by a church warden that if they kept returning with items, they would continue to be taken away.

He said: “This is meant to be a religious place, a community place, and they are upsetting a lot of people.

“This place means a lot to us. Our children were christened here and I even used to mow the cemetery lawn here.

“We understand they need to keep it under control but to remove personal items without warning us is completely out of order and should not be allowed.”

The Rev Simon Rowlands said: “Although notice was given of the need for families to remove items that do not meet churchyard regulations, it is clear that this was not seen by everyone and we are deeply sorry for any distress this situation may have caused.

“We would be very happy to speak directly with any of the families about the leaving of tributes and gifts in the churchyard.

“We are committed to ensuring the churchyard can be a space in which people can be free to honour and remember their loved ones appropriately.”