A grieving mother has criticised council chiefs after her son's grave was "trashed" during a routine turfing procedure.

Ena Dorney accused Basildon Council workers of ruining son Daniel's grave at Pitsea Cemetery - and of forcing her to relive her ordeal all over again.

Daniel, 20, of Tanswell Avenue, Pitsea, died on February 1 1998 in a horrific three-car pile up on the A130 in Benfleet.

The crash tragically also claimed the life of 20-year-old Paul Lane, of Wickford Avenue, Basildon.

Mrs Dorney and her family have visited the grave every day since - but were shocked on Monday when they discovered it had been turfed over and had all its family mementoes dumped in a heap nearby.

She said it took her family seven hours to repair the damage, adding: "It's like my son has died again - it had been pulled up like nobody cared about him.

"The council had trashed his grave and they hadn't given us any notification that they were going to do it.

"I've had to take time off work because of the stress of it all and I don't want anyone else to go through what we've been through this week.

"It's wrong - we've been through enough without this."

A spokesman for Basildon Council said: "Turfing happens to every grave but we are looking into the other claims.

"We sympathise with the family and the distress this could have caused. Issues like these will be part of the review currently taking place of our cemetery services."

This is not the first time council workers have offended a grieving family.

Last year the council binned floral tributes to murdered teenager Steven Harding.

Dozens of flowers, including a wreath in the shape of a teddy bear, were placed opposite the Powerhouse pub in Clay Hill Road - the spot where the Vange 16-year-old collapsed after he was stabbed.

The place had acted as a temporary grave for friends and family while Steve's body was held by police.

Basildon Council chiefs apologised in writing to the Harding family.

DIsturbed - mum Ena is upset that mementos had been moved from Daniel's grave

(Right) Crash victim - Daniel

Top picture: STEVE' O'CONNELL

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