A FAMILY has been left heartbroken after ornaments on the grave of their two-year-old daughter were smashed into tiny pieces. Megan Broughton was two months from her third birthday when she died from a brain tumour in 2004.

A FAMILY has been left heartbroken after ornaments on the grave of their two-year-old daughter were smashed into tiny pieces.

Megan Broughton was two months from her third birthday when she died from a brain tumour in 2004. More than 200 people attended the toddler's funeral in Bungay and ever since friends and family have adorned her grave with ornaments and trinkets to help remember her.

But last week Megan's family found their tributes had been destroyed after her sisters, Tanesia, 13, and Shannon, 10, went to water flowers at the grave.

The girls' mother Martina Cole said: “They came back and said 'there are some things up there that are smashed'.

“The next morning we all went up there and there was even more stuff smashed - lots of ornaments about a foot away from the headstone.”

Among the damaged items was a Bambi ornament which was bought by Tanesia on a visit to Orlando.

Mrs Cole, who lives in Bungay with her husband Neal and five children, said the 13-year-old had bought the Bambi for her sister's memorial using her pocket money, rather than buying other souvenirs from her trip.

Other graves have also been damaged - an angel placed by mourners near another headstone appeared to have pellet holes from an air rifle on it.

Mrs Cole said she believed the Bambi had been damaged in the same way. She added: “I would say it's been shot. The Bambi was in 50 to 100 pieces - it was absolutely shattered. It was placed away from the grave as if it was target practice.”

Suffolk Police said they were aware of the problems but added they did not believe an air rifle had been involved.

A spokesman said: “There have been reports of groups of youths causing problems for people visiting the graves. Police are going to do extra patrols and are looking into other potential measures that can be taken.”

Waveney District Council was also told about the vandalism. A spokesman said: “We are saddened to learn that damage to graves may have occurred because of appalling anti-social behaviour.

“Naturally we will assist police in whatever way we can and would call on anyone with any information to contact them as soon as possible.”

Megan's family are distraught and cannot believe anyone could vandalise their daughter's grave. Mrs Cole said: “I'm absolutely devastated. It's broken everyone's hearts. It does me in. I don't like to think of my little girl being up there.

“I don't know what the answer is - some people have said there should be gates, but there shouldn't have to be gates up there.”

The family have now cleaned up the grave but are reluctant to place any more ornaments on it in case they are also destroyed.

Mrs Cole said: “It's the place where we remember her, a place that we can make look beautiful. The family really loved her and it's our place for her.”