This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-42092777

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Family 'devastated by badger attack' on father's grave Family 'devastated by badger attack' on father's grave
(about 3 hours later)
A family has been left "devastated" after finding their father's grave was apparently attacked by badgers. Badgers have been blamed for the damage to a man's grave, which has left a family "devastated".
Karen Rushton, from Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, said her family found turf had been pulled off her father John's grave, in Fenton Cemetery, on Tuesday.Karen Rushton, from Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, said her family found turf had been pulled off her father John's grave, in Fenton Cemetery, on Tuesday.
She said cemetery staff told her there was a badger sett at the site and the animals - a protected species - were looking for food. She said staff told her there was a badger sett at the cemetery and the animals - a protected species - were looking for food.
The city council, which owns the cemetery, said it was investigating. The city council, which owns the site, said it was investigating.
'New topsoil' 'Visited by badgers'
Mrs Rushton said her mother Eileen found the grave had been partly dug up when she visited the site. Mrs Rushton said her mother Eileen found the grave had been partly dug up when she visited it.
"My mum was shaking and trembling," she said. "None of the other graves seemed to have been disturbed. She thought it meant they were going to put somebody else in the grave."My mum was shaking and trembling," she said. "None of the other graves seemed to have been disturbed. She thought it meant they were going to put somebody else in the grave.
"When I spoke to the cemetery staff, they told me there is a badger sett at the cemetery and there is nothing they can do about it because they are a protected species."When I spoke to the cemetery staff, they told me there is a badger sett at the cemetery and there is nothing they can do about it because they are a protected species.
"They said they had attacked the grave because it has new topsoil. My dad's grave had sunk and apparently they had carried out repairs."They said they had attacked the grave because it has new topsoil. My dad's grave had sunk and apparently they had carried out repairs.
"We don't know how long the grave is going to be like that and I presume if they fix it, the badgers are going to go back again. I was really upset when I saw it and my mum is still in bits.""We don't know how long the grave is going to be like that and I presume if they fix it, the badgers are going to go back again. I was really upset when I saw it and my mum is still in bits."
The family have spoken to cemetery staff about the issue and are waiting to see how it will be resolved. Randy Conteh, the council's cabinet member for communities, said: "We sympathise strongly with Mrs Rushton and her family at what must be a very distressing time.
"My mum isn't coping very well with this at all," said Mrs Rushton. "She doesn't feel she can leave flowers." "We are aware that the cemetery is occasionally visited by badgers and have taken advice from experts about how best to deal with the problem.
"This has included improving fencing to prevent the animals from getting access to the graves."