A GRIEVING woman has told of her heartache at finding dog muck on her mother’s grave.

Claire Cain is now calling on people walking their dogs to do the decent thing by respecting cemeteries in the region and clear up after their pets.

Carol Sharkey died in July this year, aged 66, and is buried in Harelaw Cemetery, near St Thomas’s Church, in Harelaw, near Stanley, in County Durham.

Ms Cain, who lives in Leadgate, near Consett, said she regularly finds dog waste on the grave.

She said: “We are full of grief anyway and to see that on your mam’s grave is disheartening.

“My sister and I go up everyday. We take pride in that area and have got a park bench for my mam and dad. It is not nice to see and is very distressing.”

Ms Cain said people have shown no remorse when they have been pulled up over the issue by others.

She added: “One woman has had a problem with it for 15 years. Another approached a man who had a dog that was going to cock its leg against my mam’s headstone and he said he couldn’t give a ****.”

Durham County Council has the power to issue fines for people who fail to pick up after their pet.

Ian Hoult, neighbourhood protection manager for the authority, said: “We fully understand how upsetting this can be and would urge people to be responsible dog owners and always pick up after their pet, particularly when walking through cemeteries.

“We would also advise keeping dogs on leads so they don’t run off, which can make it more difficult to find and pick up their mess.”