HEARTBROKEN parents visiting the burial spots for their beloved children have found all the loving mementoes cleared away.

A woodland section of Southend Crematorium was dedicated to young babies or stillborn children.

Southend Council has removed all “informal” memorials, including countless teddies, messages, and colourful decorations.

The items are now waiting in boxes for bereaved parents to collect.

Southend Council claimed letters were sent in November to all involved, although that is disputed, about the need to keep the area tidy.

Hannah Watson, 24, of Victoria Avenue, and her family have had a memorial to her sister on the site for more than ten years.

She said: “It is heartbreaking to see the difference, it is just not the same place anymore.”

Hannah’s mum had previously collected her sister’s memorial, but Hannah took to Facebook with a lengthy post after seeing piles of cardboard boxes with uncollected memorials.

She added: “The reaction on Facebook has been unbelievable, so many people have contacted to say they had no idea.

“I have had so many parents contact me, and they are all rightfully devastated.

“I think there have been about 35 memorials affected, and from Facebook it is clear many of those were not contacted.”

Councillor Mark Flewitt said: “We do very much appreciate and completely understand the sensitivity of this issue and apologise for any upset and distress this may cause. We hope parents will understand the necessity to keep the children’s woodland area tidy for the purpose it was originally intended.

“Much of the memorabilia started to deteriorate in the weather and in addition to this, it also became an operational problem as we were not being able to use the area for the burial of children’s cremated remains, which is what the site is there for.

“After receiving a number of complaints from parents, particularly from those with official adopted memorials, we took the difficult decision.”