A FLINTSHIRE man was left stunned to find someone else buried in a grave plot he bought for himself 30 years ago.

Mark Ellis, from Penyffordd, went to visit his mother’s grave – who has been buried for 30 years at Hope Cemetery - earlier this year when the shock discovery was made.

Along with his two sisters, Mark had purchased three neighbouring grave plots to ensure the whole family could be buried together.

He told the Leader: “My sister died about 17 months ago and she’s been next to mum ever since. He council have now put someone in the grave space next to her which is mine.

“I rang the council up who said I must be mistaken – but I was standing right there, I wasn’t. Someone is in my grave.”

Mr Ellis says that someone from the council came out to check the graves and explained how the situation came to be.

He claims a council worker told him that due to the graveyard ‘filling up’ the council have ‘slipped one more in’.

Mr Ellis said : “They’ve offered to buy my grave back from me as well as my sister’s empty one and give £100 compensation”, he says.

“I told them that I don’t want that because we’ve all gone about with the idea that when we die, we’ll all be by mum. That is why we did it all those years ago, I’ve got the deeds and everything.

“The grave has become our special place to remember mum, it has been for the last three decades nearly and to move her now from her place of rest just doesn’t seem right. It’s left us all gobsmacked.”

Mr Ellis says his issue stems from the fact that the council will not move the person from newly buried grave and are saying they will move his mum and sister once the new plots are available.

He adds that having a ‘complete stranger’ buried between the family plots has left him ‘very annoyed and upset’.

He continues: “It is just baffling that the council could not realise that the plots were all bought on the same day but the same family and decided just to ‘slip one in’ anyway.”

“I want to be buried in my plot by my mum and sisters. It belongs to me! We bought them almost 30 years ago!”

Steve Jones, chief officer Streetscene and transportation said: “We are aware of the situation and are in discussion with the family about the reserved plots to find a satisfactory solution for all parties. It would therefore be inappropriate to comment further at this time.

“Staff from the service categorically deny using the language quoted in the enquiry.

"All of the team take great pride in their work and always treat bereaved family members and relatives respectfully and with compassion.”