Police have confirmed they are investigating after a floral urn was stolen from Dame Vivienne Westwood's grave.
There was outrage on Sunday (May 28) after floral decorations and an urn had been taken from the grave of the icon, who died aged 81 on December 29 last year and was buried in her Derbyshire home village.
Local business Norris Floristry had been commissioned to create the floral instillation for the legendary designer's funeral and to also regularly maintain her grave until a permanent memorial was put in place.
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Derbyshire Constabulary have now confirmed to the Manchester Evening News that they received the report on Sunday evening and are now conducting investigations into the theft. They are urging anyone who 'saw anything suspicious' to come forward.
Locals first noticed the floral display, including a heavy urn filled with sand and rocks, had vanished from the graveyard at Tintwistle and Glossop United Reformed Church and contacted the florist.
Head florist Anja Norris told the Manchester Evening News of her upset at learning the urn had been taken, and that it was likely 'planned' due to the weight of the urn and remote location of the graveyard.
"It has so much sentimental meaning to the family and those who come to visit the grave, it's just shocking somebody would do something like this," she said.
"The entire urn had been planted with new flowers for summer. It's a real low for someone to steal something from someone's grave."
In an update, a spokesperson for Derbyshire Constabulary said: "We were called to a report of the theft of flowers and an urn from a grave in Chapel Brow in Tintwistle just after 6.20pm on Sunday 28 May.
"We are continuing with our investigation into the incident and would urge anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area between midnight on Sunday 21 May and midday on Sunday 28 May, to contact us."
If you have any information, you can contact the force quoting reference 23*326238, using any of the methods below. You can also anonymously contact the independent charity CrimeStoppers, on 0800 555 111, or by visiting the CrimeStoppers website.
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