Families have reacted angrily after being told to remove certain items from the graves of their loved ones.

In July, Arun District Council’s cemeteries team wrote to a number of grave-owners at Littlehampton cemetery in Horsham Road about “non-permitted items” being placed on graves and in some instances overlapping adjacent graves.

The council said it asked that all items be contained within the permitted grave space and that non-permitted items be removed after concerns were raised by some grave owners.

Jane Key has now started a petition against what she described as “disrespectful behaviour” and said people should be allowed to put what they want on the graves of their loved ones.

“The letter states that no fences of any material, no plastic and no stones or chippings and that all these had to be removed, they will be checking again in August and anything that’s not meant to be there they will personally removed,” she wrote on Change.org.

“This is disgusting behaviour, we should be allowed to put whatever we want with our loved ones on their forever bed, I could understand if it was a mess and left but most of them up there are very well looked after.

“People have complained as ornaments have been broken by the grass cutters so why are we not allowed to fence it off so ornaments aren’t being broken?”

More than 700 people have signed.

Leigh Pedder wrote on the petition: “People pay a lot of money to purchase a plot for their lost loved ones. They deserve the right to decorate as they see fit providing it does not disturb any other surrounding graves.”

Suzanne Critchley said: “Our loved ones deserve to have their final resting place decorated nicely.”

A spokesman from Arun District Council said some grave owners have reacted positively to the letter and “ with understanding of their responsibilities, are taking the necessary action”.

He said the council is looking to meet with those who are unhappy.

“It is important to note that our requests in this instance are not a case of the council being disrespectful or difficult,” the spokesman said.

“We are governed and required to set appropriate regulations concerning memorials by The Local Authorities’ Cemeteries Order 1977. Having no regulations or control over our cemeteries could put the council in breach of the law.

“Our regulations were approved by councillors (April 2020) and were endorsed by the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management as being a model to be adopted by other burial authorities. The Cemeteries Regulations provide a level playing field for all grave owners, permitting appropriate tributes to be laid at graves in a controlled and safe way for all users, our maintenance teams and wildlife.

“The rules are applied equally to all. Prospective owners receive this information and agree to abide by our regulations at the time they sign paperwork with the funeral director and when they eventually receive the grave deeds.”