A COUPLE whose two children died in infancy are devastated by the theft of mementoes from their graves.

Mark and Dawn Adams (pictured) buried their son Joshua, six months, and daughter Zoe, five months, in Cwmbran cemetery in Llan-tarnam Road after they died in April this year and March 2000, respectively, from primary pulmonary hypertension.

It is not yet known why the children developed the serious heart and lung condition which hits the supply of oxygen around the body and forces the chambers of the heart to overwork and stop.

The couple are waiting for tests to find out if the condition was genetic. On Saturday evening during their daily visit to the cemetery, the couple discovered all but one of the teddy bears they placed on their children's graves had been stolen.

Mrs Adams, 32, said she believes the bears were taken by three girls aged between eight and 11.

Mrs Adams said: "On Saturday my husband and I went down to the cemetery about 5pm. But when we got there we saw that all but one of the teddies on my daughter's grave were gone."

The couple then discovered that items were also missing from their son's grave. Mrs Adams, said a retired couple living nearby told them three girls had been seen walking in the area with carrier bags and rucksacks.

The girls had climbed over the wall near Cwmbran Stadium. Mrs Adams, of West Pontnewydd, Cwm-bran, said she and her 33-year-old husband are now afraid to replace the items taken in case they too get stolen - and are even having second thoughts about putting headstones on the graves.

She said: "This has really hurt us. We were heartbroken about what has happened. It's not about the value of the items taken. It's the principle.

"We have no other children and that's all we have left. We are worried about putting the headstones down there now."

Sergeant Andrew Lloyd, from Cwmbran, police said the theft is being investigated. He said: "We are sympathetic to the distress the couple are suffering and anyone who can assist us is urged to contact us because of the hurt these actions have caused." Call Cwmbran police on 01633 838999.