A FAMILY are distraught after a memorial cross on their baby's grave was snapped in two in an appalling act of desecration.

Annie McCaffery, whose son Finlay tragically passed away back in 2005 at the age of just 8 months, said that her son's plaque and memorial were vandalised. 

Annie and her family are originally from Scotland but they've lived in Cumbria for a number of years. Her son was buried in the cemetery at High Heskett near Carlisle. 

She was told this week that the grave had been vandalised and she is appealing to members of the public in hope of catching whoever is responsible.

I can't believe that someone would do this to a young child's grave

Mrs McCaffery said: "Our son’s grave in High Hesket has been desecrated. The most unimaginably cruel thing anyone could do to a child’s grave. 

"My family and I lived in Calthwaite until 2007 and then we moved back to Scotland because when we were living in Calthwaite we had a little boy called Finlay.

"He was just eight months old when he died. His cause of death was unknown and marked as sudden infant death.

"At the time he was a part of High Heskett Parish which is St Mary's Church in High Heskett and they've been great.

News and Star: The awful damage to the Celtic cross.The awful damage to the Celtic cross. (Image: Annie McCaffery)

"First of all, we had a headstone but we later moved that to Scotland and we then put a plaque there and last year, in July, I had a Celtic cross made especially for his grave.

"I was contacted this week and told that his grave had been very deliberately vandalised.

"His head stone had been smashed and his plaque kicked to the ground. Everything that was there was broken. I can't believe it.

"The cross was made of resin, so it’s taken significant effort to smash it. The plaque was also kicked to the ground - both were cemented in.

"I cannot imagine that it would be anyone that we know who has done this but unfortunately there is no CCTV down there. 

"I think something needs to be done.

"I can't believe that someone would do this to a young child's grave, it's such a heinous thing to do."

A Cumbria Police spokesman said: "We received a report at 4.57pm on February 7 of criminal damage to a grave at St Mary’s Church in High Hesket.

"Anyone who has any information on this can contact police on 101."