Mark Humphreys, from Baschurch, at the grave of his only son, Jonathan

A grieving Shropshire father has hit out after claiming sentimental ornaments have been moved from the grave of his 17-year-old son, who was killed in a car crash.

Mark Humphreys, from Baschurch, said he found it upsetting that his only son Jonathan’s grave was suddenly being “interfered with” three years after he was laid to rest, after he died in a car crash.

The cemetery in Ruyton Road, Baschurch is owned and maintained by Baschurch Parish Council.

Former Corbet School pupil Jonathan died in January 2008 after the car he was a passenger in smashed into a BMW in Huffley Lane, near Bomere Heath.

Mr Humphreys said: “I put solar lights on there because Jonathan didn’t like the dark and always slept with the bedroom door open.

“There were colour-changing bulbs and solar lights at Jonathan’s grave and a couple of nights after they went up, they were put over by the bin.

“I thought maybe the wind had blown things away, but it’s happened to other graves too.

“The lights were very small so they don’t disturb anybody out there.”

Mr Humphreys said items like flowers, a Shrewsbury Town FC scarf, solar lights, wind chimes and windmills were left by Jonathan’s friends and relatives and are in lieu of a headstone, which he is saving for.

He added: “Most of the mourners have been very supportive and say people should be able to mourn as they see fit.

“Nobody has told me things have to go, but stuff has started disappearing in the last six weeks.”

He added he had raised the issue with parish councillors and staff and wished to thank those who had been “sympathetic and supportive”.

He said: “I respect the council’s views and I try to keep it all tidy but I can’t be held responsible for the things his friends leave him.

“They might think I’m the one throwing things away, but I’m not. It’s very upsetting.”

Parish clerk Anne Howls, said she was unaware how the items came to be moved away.

But she said copies of the burial ground rules were issued to people when they buy a plot.

She added: “One thing that’s not allowed is any lighting of any kind.”

By Tom Johannsen