THE grave of a baby found dead in a Gwent canal was trampled by sheep who ate the flowers on it - the day after the tragic child was buried.

Only a few damaged bunches of daffodils, irises, two cuddly toys and some tribute cards remain at the grave of the baby boy found dead in the Monmouthshire and Brecon canal at Newbridge.

Christened Baby Newbridge after the spot where he was found, the baby was discovered in a holdall five months ago.

Police searched in vain for his mother, but the baby's tiny body was eventually laid to rest last Thursday at Abercarn cemetery after a funeral service at St Paul's Church, Newbridge, organised by Caerphilly county borough council and attended by 100 mourners, many shocked local people.

Despite requests from the council not to send any floral tributes, many elaborate wreaths were left at the graveside by local residents after the ceremony who had taken the unidentified baby to their hearts.

One Newbridge resident who came to pay her respects the following day made the upsetting discovery that the grave had been trampled.

Jean Jones, (pictured) 53, of Elm Court, Pantside, said: "I went to the grave of Baby Newbridge last Friday morning and was disgusted to see that all the flowers had been eaten. It must have been sheep because there are droppings by the side of the grave.

"I think it's absolutely terrible - the baby was only buried on Thursday and by Friday morning the flowers were gone."

Mrs Jones added: "This is something that has been going on for years. The sheep have eaten flowers off my parents' grave no end of times. I suppose there are lots of people that have laid flowers down for their loved ones at the cemetery only for sheep to eat them - I think it's really sad."

St Paul's Church asked us to point out that it does not charge for services for children under the age of 16 and there were no fees for Baby Newbridge's funeral. An open verdict was recorded at an inquest into the baby's death last month after a pathologist said the child had been stillborn or died within moments of birth. The police file on the case remains open.