A church's decision to ban mourners from decorating memorial stones with anything but flowers has been branded "disgusting".

Families whose loved are buried in the Garden of Remembrance at St Peter’s Church in Broadstairs hit out after the park was cleared of sentimental items.

Mementos and flowers placed on memorial stones were removed by the church and left by the East Wall for collection.

But the move by the move was described as “disrespectful” and “disgusting” by members of the Facebook group Broadstairs!

The church put a sign up saying people were welcome to place fresh flowers only on memorials, with the plastic film removed, but outraged visitors took to the social media site to express their anger.

One member of the Broadstairs group posted saying: “St Peter’s Garden of Remembrance has been desecrated by the church.

"They want to make it a ‘beautiful place’ but have only succeeded in making it look a barren piece of wasteland, taking away the colour of the flowers that provided comfort to the relatives.”

Another wrote: “So sad ....flowers and the personal touch is all part of grieving and connecting with your loved ones....who wants to visit a field of gray flagstones?”

The remembrance garden was cleared on Saturday.

The church had originally put up a sign stating the garden would be cleared “of all rubbish, dead flowers, glass jars, containers etc.

"We are trying to maintain a beautiful place for all to enjoy. Thank you for your co-operation in keeping this garden looking tidy”.

Archdeacon of Canterbury Jo Kelly-Moore said: “It is our priority, and our obligation, to maintain the memorial garden as a peaceful and beautiful place in which all can come to remember their loved ones.

“In order to ensure this, it has been necessary to remove artificial flowers and ornaments, many of which were damaged or broken.

"Since January the church has been advertising on the churchyard gates, and in the parish newsletter, that this would be happening and the need to remove items from the churchyard, other than fresh flowers, which are welcomed.

“In addition, any memorial items that were salvageable were kept and put aside in the churchyard for people to collect.

“We are very sorry that this has caused distress to some, but we hope that through tidying up the garden we can make it a better space for all who visit it and ensure that it is very well cared for into the future.”