THE heartless theft of at least six holly wreaths from Verwood cemetery has been branded “despicable”.

Chris Marshall, 31, took his wife and two-year-old to lay the special Christmas memorial by his father’s ashes, only to have it cruelly stolen.

Chris, who grew up in Verwood but now lives in Colehill, said: “My dad died 13 years ago, and this was the first Christmas I took my son up to pay his respects properly.

“At this time of year it’s something nasty that you really don’t want to have to deal with. I put off calling my mum to break the news as I knew she’d be upset.

“We’re really cut up about it.”

Verwood town councillor Vic Redpath, who chairs the council’s amenities committee which looks after the cemetery, said he was disgusted by the thefts.

“I think it’s totally despicable that people feel they can steal something like that,” he said yesterday.

“It’s a horrible way to make some money quickly.”

The wreaths disappeared from the site in Ringwood Road between Friday, December 10, and Sunday, December 12.

Sergeant Richard Partridge, from Verwood Safer Neighbourhood Team, said from speaking to three of the victims, he thought that the wreaths had probably been taken late on Sunday.

Sgt Partridge said: “This is a horrible crime. I suspect someone has taken them for their own use or to sell on at a car boot sale. Christmas should be a happy time of year, but if you’ve lost someone it can become quite low. Spending time at a relative’s final resting place gives some comfort, so you can understand why people are very upset.”