A YOUNG mother who lost her son at just five days old says she was left in tears after his grave was damaged in what appears to be an act of vandalism.

Jess Larder was horrified to discover her son Riley's grave, at Poundbury Cemetery, had been covered in glue. The headstone has only been in place for around a month.

Jess said the damage was discovered by a friend, who contacted her immediately to let her know what had happened.

Police have not ruled out the fact that it could have been caused by someone attempting to affix some sort of well intentioned tribute to the gravestone and it going wrong, but at the moment they are treating it as an act of criminal damage.

Jess said: "I was fuming, I was just going mad and I was crying because it's only been there about a month."

She said she could not understand why anyone would do that to her son's grave.

Riley was just five days old when he died last October and it has taken several months to arrange for the headstone at the cemetery.

Jess said she was appalled that it had been targeted so soon after being installed and she was keen for any information that might help trace those who committed the offence.

She said she had spoken to those who run the cemetery and, while they were not around on Sunday afternoon when it happened, they suggested there could have been people in the area walking their dogs who might have seen something.

Jess said: "We just want to see if any dog walkers were around the cemetery at the time or if anyone saw anything."

Jess said she spent several hours at the grave on Monday, scrubbing it clean.

Inspector Steve Marsh said: "We have recorded this as a criminal damage, although we are still unsure as to whether its a deliberate act or if somebody unknown to the mother has tried to attach something out of respect or sorrow and it has gone wrong."

Insp Marsh said it was concerning that the mother did not know of anyone attempting such a tribute but said somebody may have seen pictures of various items of tribute left at the grave on social media and gone up there on their own accord.

He added that if it was discovered to be deliberate police would take the matter very seriously.

Insp Marsh said: "If it is a deliberate act it is an outrageous thing to do."

Anyone who can help clarify the situation or who witnesses anything is asked to contact Dorset Police on 101.