CAMPAIGNERS are today celebrating victory in the battle to allow toys on children's graves.

The campaign by the Argus and grieving parents, to place tributes at youngsters' final resting places in Newport, ended with councillors today agreeing with a recommendation to change the strict ban.

Today, Newport mums Elaine Pike (pictured) and Tracy Ratcliffe - who have both tragically lost children - told the Argus of their joy.

"I'm ecstatic. I knew this would happen - I knew we'd win," said 39-year-old Elaine. An emotional Tracy, 32, added: "The council have changed their minds because of the amount of publicity this issue has received. They've realised what parents need." The city council is now set to give grieving families what they want.

The Argus launched its Special Place campaign on March 1, highlighting the plight of grieving parents.

In the weeks that followed, more than 2,000 outraged people signed petitions launched by Elaine and Tracy asking for a political change.

It was a month-long battle to keep youngsters graves at St Woolos, Christchurch and Caer-leon cemeteries special. Today, a council scrutiny forum agreed parents should be allowed leave treasured mementoes. This recomendation will now go before Cabinet for final decision.

Delighted Elaine, of Halstead Street, and Tracy, of Lodge Court Avenue, Caerleon, led the fight by parents.

Elaine, whose son, Lloyd, died from a brain tumour last year, said: "It's such a positive thing for us parents to do, I knew it would work out."

Tracy, who lost her son Richard while five months pregnant, added: "It's just what we wanted. I had worked out all these things I was going to say at the meeting - but I don't have to now.

"We need more than just a black stone in the ground to remember our children." Cabinet member Councillor Graham Dally presented the recommendations in the report to change cemetery regulations.

It includes a liaison group of council officers and parents will decide on how to maintain and deal with the day-to-day running of the cemeteries.

Councillor Dally said some families had contacted him complaining about decorated graves - but numbers did not match the thousands who had signed petitions in favour of the parents. Elaine and Tracy thanked all those who supported them.