A dog statue which has watched over a woman’s son and parents’ resting place in Salterbeck Cemetery has been stolen.

Retired nurse Barbara Charnley, of Main Road, High Harrington, made the discovery when she went to place the ashes of her son’s much-loved dog by the grave.

Matthew Holliday, who died aged 31 in December 2013, was buried in Salterbeck Cemetery alongside his grandmother, Jean Holliday, who had died earlier that year. His grandfather, Richard Holliday, died in June last year, aged 90, and was buried with them.

Mrs Charnley, Matthew’s mother, said: “My dad had bought a grave for himself and my mum. When Matthew died he was buried there.

“My dad suggested we put a dog statue on the grave, so I bought a stone statue of a dog which looked like Matthew’s dog, Jack, to watch over him.”

Around the dog’s neck were some rosary beads, which Matthew had put on his grandmother’s grave following a trip to a monastery in Italy. But Mrs Charnley was upset to find the dog and rosary beads had disappeared when she visited last Friday.

“I’m disgusted that someone could take something off someone’s grave. I walked around the graveyard but could not find it.

“The dog was worthless, it was put there for a purpose,” she said. “I’m so annoyed that someone would do this, and would really like to ask anyone who knows anything about this, to please put the dog back.”

She visits the cemetery regularly, leaving flowers on birthdays and anniversaries.

Mrs Charnley had just returned from a surprise holiday with her husband, Christopher.

He had organised the Menorca trip to celebrate their 18th wedding anniversary and his wife’s birthday and retirement.

Part-way through the holiday, Mrs Charnley got a call to say that Matthew’s dog was poorly and would have to be put down. The dog was cremated and she planned to put his ashes under the statue at the family grave.

Matthew was a DJ and fisherman who had a history of mental health problems and drug misuse. His body was found on the beach at Flimby.