A devastated family whose child’s gravestone was vandalised have spoken out about their heartbreak.

The gravestone of Mckenzie Reece North, who was stillborn, in High Wycombe Cemetery’s Snowdrop Gardens in Priory Road, was damaged between August 27 and September 17 this year, with the marble part removed and discarded a few feet from the concrete base.

Mum Bernadette North, 39, from High Wycombe, called it “awful” and police confirmed it is not the first time this has happened to the gravestone.

She said: “This has been happening for some time now and it is quite upsetting.

“It was awful when we found out it had happened again. It is heartbreaking.”

Mrs North called for more security around the cemetery including CCTV, with social media users reporting drunk people playing loud music after hours in Snowdrop Gardens, and one user commenting something similar had happened to her baby sister’s grave.

She said: “There just doesn’t seem to be any [security] at all. People should be able to grieve in peace and quiet and it is just not fair.

“I would like to see more CCTV there so things like this can’t be happening.”

While the gravestone has been repaired, Mrs North is worried it will keep happening unless security is ramped up, and said husband David found it “unbelievable” that someone could do this to a child’s grave, with many social media users echoing her thoughts, branding the act “absolutely disgusting”.

She praised police, adding: “I can’t fault the police at all, they have done everything they could do.

“We have no idea, no clue as to who could be doing this and why.”

A Wycombe District Council spokesman said: “We appreciate how distressing it is for friends and family when a grave of a loved one is damaged or vandalised. The gravestone has since been repaired.

“The Snowdrop Garden and the cemetery grounds are surrounded by walls and fencing, and the gates are locked every night. We work closely with Thames Valley Police and constantly review site security as a matter of course.

“Our contractors regularly empty bins and remove rubbish from the cemetery grounds. We would encourage residents to report any issues relating to noise, litter or anti-social behaviour to the council.

“If anyone witnesses any criminal damage taking place they should call the police on 101 or 999 in an emergency.”

Police are appealing for anyone with information to call investigating officer PC Richard Lunn from High Wycombe police station on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.