A FAMILY whose only son died from meningitis has been left devastated after robbers desecrated his grave.

The robbers have been labelled "sick" by mum Vicky Wright and dad Fintan Morgan after they stole sentimental ornaments and ripped up a weeping willow tree from the grave of her baby son Connor at Leigh Cemetery.

Seven-month-old Connor died in February last year after he was struck down by meningococcal meningitis.

But Connor's grave has suffered two attacks in just three months by grave robbers - which has left the family to suffer even more heartache.

Miss Wright, who now lives in Runcorn but was originally from Leigh, said: "I don't know how they can sleep at night. I don't understand how they can do something like this to a child's grave. We have all been left so upset by their actions, it has had a devastating effect on our family."

An ornamental Kermit the frog had been placed at Connor's grave because the youngster had long gangly legs when he was born, like the puppet frog.

But the family were left horrified on Christmas Day last year when they found the ornament had been stolen.

The ornament was replaced with another Kermit the frog which was drilled into the ground to deter robbers.

But last week robbers unsuccessfully attempted to steal the ornament - but instead ripped up the weeping willow tree.

Now the family have offered a reward for information leading to the arrest of the culprits and the safe return of the ornament.

Miss Wright said: "When we came down to see the grave, it had been left in absolute mess. There was slate and crystals everywhere. It was heartbreaking. Someone must know something and know someone who has a Kermit the frog ornament. We want it back."

A spokesman for Wigan Leisure & Culture Trust's Cemetery Service, said: "The Trust condemns any act of theft from graves. It is a cruel, despicable act and almost beyond belief that some individuals can stoop to such levels.

"We take issues of security very seriously. There are regular patrols through the cemeteries and they are locked at night.

"But by their very nature cemeteries are public places and we cannot have someone on guard 24 hours a day.

"We would appeal to the better nature of the people who do this to treat our cemeteries with the sensitivity and respect they deserve and would urge anyone who knows who is doing this or sees anything suspicious to contact the police straight away."