A HEARTBROKEN family is 'disgusted' after precious mementos were taken from a man's grave, including a statue of a beloved pet dog.

Nick Cook and brother Craig are asking for the thief who stole mementos from their father's grave in Astwood Cemetery in Worcester to return them, particularly a statue of a Yorkshire terrier engraved with his name.

The family kept Yorkshire terriers so the item was of particular sentimental value and had lain on the grave of Neville Cook for the last decade undisturbed before it was taken last Tuesday (October 10).

The statue was bought for the grave by Mr Cook's widow, Valerie, who still lives at the home the couple shared in Saddler's Walk, Worcester.

Mrs Cook had two statues of the dogs - one for the grave and one for her home. The statues were mementos of two beloved family Yorkshire terriers called Pride and Pippin. The couple had the terriers at the time Mr Cook, who suffered from muscular dystrophy, died at the age of 73 after battling cancer and other health problems.

The theft of the terrier statue comes at a particularly raw and difficult time for the family as they are approaching the 10th anniversary of Neville Cook's death.

Mr Cook, a lorry driver and mechanic who had six sons and a daughter, died on October 20, 2007 and the family still light a candle for Neville every day and keep his grave well maintained.

Nick Cook, aged 51, of Warndon, Worcester, said: "We all want the dog returned to the grave. It was engraved specially. This is a disgrace. Things should not be taken from graves. They're sacred. This is wrong. The people who did this are lowlifes.

"Dad was outgoing and down to earth. Family came first for him."

The family reported the theft to the office at Astwood Cemetery but have not yet reported it to West Mercia Police.

They hope, in the meantime, the thief or thieves will return the stolen dog. The family has also had other mementos taken, including lights.

Mr Cook says it has also happened to other families at the cemetery.

Another of Neville's sons, Craig Cook, 39, who is a carer for his mum said: "I'm disgusted by it to be truthful. I go every single day to my dad's grave without fail. I look after it. I maintain it. In theory it doesn't matter what you put on a grave. It should stay on there.

"My mum is heartbroken. It means so much to the family."

He described the person or people who stole the dog as 'scum' and added: "And that's being polite."

A replacement dog has been bought and the family are now exploring ways to secure it but feel they should not have to go to such lengths.

A Worcester City Council spokesperson said: “We are extremely sorry that a statue has been stolen from a grave at Astwood Cemetery.

“It is fairly rare for incidents like this to occur, but following this theft our staff are being extra-vigilant.

"We advise members of the public to write the grave number on the bottom of statues or memorials – in the event that they are discovered following a theft, this will help us to swiftly return them to their rightful place.

"Unfortunately it is not practical to install CCTV throughout the cemetery, as it is a 70 acre site."

The Yorkshire terrier statue is described as 11 and a half inches long and 10 and a half inches high. The inscription is on the base.