Heartbroken mum Diane Drew today spoke of her distress after thieves took two solar powered lanterns from the grave of her son.

Mrs Drew described as "sick" the people who took the lamps from the grave of 17-year-old David who died from leukaemia six months ago.

She said she placed the lanterns at the grave in the cemetery on Quibo Lane, Weymouth, to light it during the night.

And she broke down in tears as she described how she discovered the theft: "I couldn't believe that someone would steal from a grave. I put them there to mark the grave and light it during the night.

"I searched all over the cemetery looking for them in case someone had moved them as a joke. I even went up to the cemetery at 11pm to see if they were on another grave but they were nowhere," said Mrs Drew who runs a guest house on The Esplanade.

"I reported the theft to the funeral director and they said it happens all the time. The police described it as sick. I agree, it is sick.

"The whole incident has been very upsetting for the family. My daughter Tracey broke down in tears at school because of it."

Mrs Drew said David, who was at Weymouth College studying computer skills, was sadly missed by his family and his friends.

"All his friends were really upset when they heard about the theft. They all miss him - we all do - and have placed cards and records at the grave as a sign of friendship," added Mrs Drew.

Mrs Drew has bought two more lanterns to replace the ones stolen and hopes that they will remain there longer than the first two.

A police spokesman described the theft as "callous" and urged anyone with information about the theft to get in touch.

A spokesman for Weymouth and Portland Borough Council said that staff had searched in vain for the lanterns.

"The gates are open 24 hours a day at the request of the police to prevent it from becoming a secure playground - because youngsters can still scale walls - and to allow people to visit graves if they wish.

"We would urge the public if they see anyone causing a nuisance to report it to the cemetery office or the police."