Family of the late Ashburton charity fundraiser and councillor Barbara Nichol have spoken of their upset at being told 'unapproved adornments' will be removed from her grave as they break church rules.

Officials at St Andrew's have been accused of insensitivity for not contacting people personally and allowing untidy scrap metal to rot by gravestones.

Mrs Nichol died in October 2007, aged 55, after developing leukaemia. She raised funds for groups including Ashburton Museum, Diabetes UK and Macmillan Cancer Relief.