A mum-of-three says she is heartbroken after discovering her grandmother’s gravestone had been stolen just weeks before Christmas.

Cherie Pontin said the family noticed the memorial plaque for her nan Beryl Reader was missing when they visited Gravesend and Milton Cemetery last month.

The 44-year-old said: “We could not believe our eyes, it had just completely vanished.

“We were hoping it would turn up in the first instance as we thought it might have been moved and we have all been around the graveyard looking but it has not been found.”

Several small, cherub ornaments which were left alongside the inscribed gravestone have also been reported missing by the family which Cherie said is a “double blow”.

She added: “It is shocking and has hit us all. We cannot believe it. It is terrible to think someone has done this.

“This is the place we go to remember my nan, we take flowers and have that quiet time. It feels like someone has robbed us of the place we go to to remember her.

“It feels like an attack on our family. It is coming up to Christmas and her anniversary and we are just devastated. It is so upsetting.

“It is heartbreaking as these are times we would go to visit more.

“She was such a great person, she was liked by everyone. Why would someone want to steal her gravestone?

“We have been in absolute bits. It just makes no sense.”

Her nan Beryl Reader, 70, passed away on December 30, 2005, making this year the 19th anniversary of her death.

The grounds team at Gravesend and Milton Cemetery, which is run and managed by Gravesham council, has been searching for the missing memorial and contacted local stonemasons in case they have had any strange requests such as removing an inscription.

Cemetery manager Mary Bobby said: "We have looked in all the places like alleyways, bushes, open graves, and bins, but there is no sign of it.

"We have had no other reports of memorials taken. They are heavy and not easy to move and are also personal so it would be of no value to anyone else.

"It is very baffling and it is just terrible for the family. There is no rhyme or reason why it has gone.”

Mary, who has worked at the site for 10 years, explained it would be difficult and costly to use the gravestone again as the inscription would need to be removed or the underside polished up.

She added: "I have never had this happen before. We have had reports of trinkets going missing but this unfortunately happens in every cemetery.

"You can replace the memorial but it is more about the sentiment of the original and when it was first put down.

"If they can get it back, it would mean a lot to the family to have it back."

The cemetery has offered the family a temporary marker for the grave as they were told it could take 12 weeks for a new stone to be made.

Cherie, of Ingress Park, Greenhithe, has also reported the theft to the police but said as there is no CCTV or witnesses there is little officers can do.

A spokesperson for the force added: “We received an online report on December 1 detailing that between November 11 and 15 a gravestone and cherubs were stolen from a cemetery in Austin Road, Northfleet.

“No suspects were identified, however, should further information come to light then officers will investigate accordingly.”

If anyone has any information about the whereabouts of the blue pearl gravestone, contact the police or cemetery.