Petition over council's removal of four-year-old boy's headstone gets 15,000 signatures

Headstone Credit: Newsteam

A mother who started a petition after her son's star-shaped headstone was removed without her permission by a council has attracted more than 15,000 names in support.

Max Corbett-Gardener was just four years old when he died following complications associated with severe epilepsy.

Hi mother Jo Corbett saved up £3,000 for a specially made headstone at Great Malvern Cemetery, Worcestershire, featuring a teddy bear holding a star inscribed with a tribute to Max.

The council says the headstone is not in keeping with the cemetery Credit: Newsteam

She had the memorial erected on Max's grave to commemorate what would have been his seventh birthday on 31 May.

However, the council removed the stone three days after it was erected without telling Ms Corbett, leaving her "upset" and "angry".

Jo and her son Max Credit: Newsteam
Max suffered from severe epilepsy Credit: Newsteam

The memorial was erected in the adult area of the cemetery because Mrs Corbett wanted her son buried near other family members.

The council said that if Max had been buried in the children's area of the cemetery the star-shaped stone would have been allowed.

In a statement, Malvern Town Council said: