TWO Barry sisters say they are being forced to leave their mother's grave unmarked.

Elaine and Linda McNeil lost their mum just before Christmas. They have fought and lost a battle with Barry Town Council over their choice of headstone, and have been told they have less than two weeks to remove their wood and toughened-glass tribute from the Merthyr Dyfan cemetery.

A letter sent to the family by Barry town council's lawyers said that the headstone will be taken away by the council if they do not move it first.

Elaine, 37, of Columbus Close said: "I'm really scared that if we don't comply they'll take away this headstone leaving the grave unmarked.

"But it means so much to us. My mother was very artistic and I take after her, so the family thought it was fitting for me to design the tribute to her.

Now I feel like a criminal, when I think I've done nothing wrong."

For Elaine and her sister Linda, they feel they have been treated badly even though they feel they let the town council know of their intentions from the start. And now their brother Gary is being dragged into the argument, as it was in his name the burial space was applied for.

Elaine added: "Gary took it out in his name, but it was my sister and I who decided to erect the wooden monument there. I feel awful.

"I think they're making such a fuss. I know there are regulations, but it doesn't seem as though all the headstones in the cemetery follow every regulation. And some of them are in terrible condition. We wouldn't even ask the council to maintain this plot.

"We're perfectly willing to look after it. It holds our mum. If we're allowed a temporary wooden cross while we save up to get a stone piece made, why can't we keep this one instead?"