A GWENT woman was left shocked and upset after council workers dumped around five feet of mud on her father's grave.

Newport council say they are investigating the incident and have apologised for any distress caused to the family.

Lorretta Pearce, 44, of Duffryn, Newport, paid her weekly visit to dad Frederick Stock's grave at St Woolos Cemetery on Monday afternoon and was thrown into panic when she saw the mound of earth stacked on top of his grave.

"My first thought was that someone had been digging up my dad's grave. I was completely shocked."

Workers at the cemetery had dumped the earth on the grave as they dug another grave next to Mr Stock's.

There is currently no headstone on Mr Stock's grave but a cross placed by the family had been covered in cardboard, and flowers left at the grave were boarded off from the mound.

Mrs Pearce approached staff at the cemetery but was told by workers the practice was normal procedure when digging a new grave. After a member of staff said the earth could not be moved, Mrs Pearce fled the cemetery distraught.

"If that is their procedure then they should change it. I was so shocked, it left me in tears.

"I have never seen anything like it. Where is the respect for the dead?" Mrs Pearce said.

Mr Stock was laid to rest at St Woolos just over a year ago after losing a battle against lung cancer at the age of 62. He left behind seven children. Mrs Pearce said: "We are only just getting over his death, so this was extremely upsetting."

A spokesman for Newport city council said: "The council follows standard national practice for the digging of graves.

"The incident where some soil appears to have been placed by a grave is unfortunate and we have apologised for any distress caused and are investigating the incident."