HEARTBROKEN

Clementine Easton Lamb died five months after her premature birth. She is buried in Ramalley Cemetery, Chandler's Ford where controversial safety checks have declared her gravestone in need of urgent repair.

David Lamb and his wife Sue Easton were furious when they received a letter telling them Clementine's gravestone had failed a council safety inspection.

The headstone was put up five years ago and the news that it is unsafe has left the couple determined to take legal action.

The memorial stands with more than 130 others at the cemetery in Ramalley Lane. Strapped to each one is a wooden stake with a bright yellow hazard tape attached, warning people to stay away.

The couple have placed a large notice above the headstone accusing Eastleigh Borough Council of desecrating the memorial which will have to be fixed within three months or it could be removed due to health and safety regulations. It says: "This child's grave has been desecrated by the vandals at Eastleigh Council." It also adds anyone with complaints to contact Eastleigh Council

Mr Lamb, 63, said: "This is just horrible. They have made the cemetery look like a construction site. It's hideous and there's no dignity or respect for the dead."

Clementine died in 1996 from breathing problems after being born prematurely in Southampton's Princess Anne Hospital.

Mr Lamb said: "The support from the hospital and the local community was wonderful. As she was such a small baby, people really became involved in how she fought for her life until the end. So for them to see this as well is just terrible."

He added: "It was perfectly all right last month when we visited.

"We even cleaned the headstone, and there was no sign of the damage that there is now."

Mrs Easton 53, a barrister and academic lawyer said: "Eastleigh council should have informed us before doing the checks and given people the option of attending an inspection.

"The council is very insensitive. They have all the control over this, and it is just a desecration of our baby's grave."

The couple will be writing to the council to complain before pursuing legal action.

"Our daughter's grave has only been in place for five years and was constructed by one of the companies listed by the council to undertake repairs, so how could it be unsafe?" she said.

A council spokesman said: "Notices are put up at the cemeteries about inspections and the programme was reported by local press and the council borough news. As soon as a problem is identified, every endeavour is made to contact the owners as soon as possible.

"We do not want to tell people beforehand because the bulk of headstones are no problem and this would cause unnecessary worry."