A family have been left heartbroken after their nan’s gravestone was stolen for the second time in five months.

Cherie Pontin says they discovered the replacement memorial plaque for Beryl Reader had been taken again from Gravesend and Milton Cemetery.

The original stone vanished from the graveyard between November 11 and 15, along with cherub ornaments placed next to it.

The grounds team at the cemetery in Austin Road, Northfleet, searched for the missing memorial and contacted the local stonemasons in case they had had any requests, such as removing an inscription.

Cemetery manager Mary Bobby previously explained it would be difficult and costly to use the gravestone again as the existing wording would need to be removed or the underside polished up.

The theft was also reported to the police, however, despite efforts to find it, the plaque was not found and a temporary marker was placed at the resting place until a new stone could be made.

Cherie said the cemetery, which is managed by Gravesham council, offered to replace the blue pearl tribute and a new one was placed at the plot on February 3.

The 44-year-old said: “Mary Bobby and the team arranged for a new one for us which really meant a lot. It was a nice gesture for them to be able to do that.

“All the family visited and we planted flowers around the site. We all turned up.”

However, only a month later, on March 3, when a family member went to pay their respects, they noticed the new memorial was gone.

Cherie, of Ingress Park, Greenhithe, said: “When I got the phone call I was shocked, absolutely shocked.

“I am absolutely fuming and speechless, how could someone do this again? We just feel like someone is laughing at us.

“It feels really personal and we do not know why. It is heartbreaking, to be honest.

“It is not fair that we should be in this situation and cannot have a place of remembrance.

“It has been done at someone else’s expense. It is just evil and unbelievable. My nan would be turning in her grave if she knew.”

The mum-of-three does not think any other gravestones have been taken and said the latest incident has been reported to the police and cemetery staff.

She added: “We do not know what to do and it is not like we can change the plot. Do we replace it again? If we do, is it going to happen again?

“Why can we not put something down without it being taken? Why would you take hers and not someone else’s?”

She says the replacement headstone, which was so heavy she couldn’t lift it, could have cost up to £1,000.

Beryl Reader, 70, passed away on December 30, 2005, making this year the 20th anniversary of her death.

Her family is appealing for anyone with information or who may have seen anything to contact the cemetery or the police.

Has anything like this happened to you or someone you know? Tell reporter Alex Langridge about it by emailing alangridge@thekmgroup.co.uk