A grieving widow has told the Cambrian News “there are some very sick people about”, after her husband’s grave was targeted by vandals.

Eurgain Owen of Rhoslefain was left devastated last week when she went to visit her late husband’s grave in Tywyn Cemetery and discovered flowers laid just days before had been taken, and the vase was broken.

Mrs Owen, 63, who lost her 61-year-old husband, Michael, 18 months ago, said something must be done to deter the vandals.

Tywyn councillor Eileen Jones agrees, and is calling on the county council to install CCTV.

“My sister sent lilies, my husband’s favourite flower, and I put them on his grave on Monday (7 December),” Mrs Owen explained.

“Last Friday I went again and the flowers and the vase had gone and I could see bits of glass on the gravestone. I was very upset.

“As I was leaving I saw the vase. It had been put where the council workers pile the grass cuttings and it was broken.”

Mrs Owen said she has heard flowers were taken from the grave next to her husband’s a few weeks ago, and there are people posting about similar problems on social media.

“It’s awful,” Mrs Owen added.

“You don’t think people can sink that low, to desecrate graves. There are some very sick people about.

“Something needs to be done to deter these vandals. I wish they would think about how they would feel if it happened to their family.

“You should treat people as you would like to be treated.”

Cllr Jones said she was “appalled” by a number of incidents in the cemetery and is calling for Gwynedd Council to install CCTV cameras to catch the culprits.

“I was appalled to learn once again that flowers had been removed or stolen and vases broken in the local cemetery,” she said.

“How can anyone stoop so low to commit such a disrespectful act and cause great distress to grieving families.

“It would be a good idea to install CCTV cameras at the cemetery, so that low life vandals can be caught swiftly and punished harshly.

“I have written to Gwynedd Council about this.”

A Gwynedd Council spokesperson said: “As a council, we urge all visitors to be respectful when visiting Gwynedd’s cemeteries.

“We are aware of this incident at Tywyn and our officers are discussing the matter with North Wales Police.

“We would urge anyone with information about this act of vandalism to contact the police.”