POLICE have described an attack on the grave of the tragic 'butterfly boys' as “a despicable and senseless crime.”

Harry and Cody Churchill, who are buried in Poole Cemetery in Dorchester Road, died two days within each other in 2013.

The brothers had a debilitating and painful skin condition called epidermolysis bullosa, known as EB. Harry was three years old when he died while Cody was just 21 months old.

Their mother Steph Green said Harry and Cody’s grave was vandalised sometime between 1.45pm on Wednesday and 3pm on Thursday, just before what would have been Harry's 10th birthday.

Mementos from their grave was discovered strewn across the ground.

Ms Green said: “I'm absolutely heartbroken and I'm asking anyone that knows anything to please get in touch with me. 

"How anyone can do something like this is just sickening.”

She has urged those responsible to 'come forward, hold their hands up and say sorry'.

"I just want my children to be able to rest in peace and they can’t do that, it’s disgusting. For someone to come along and do that is just awful," she added.

“They suffered enough when they were alive and they should not have to suffer any more.

“All I want is for someone to come forward and hold their hands up and say sorry, I just want answers.”

Police are also calling for anyone with information to come forward. The criminal damage was reported to the force at 5.40pm on Thursday, April 25.

Inspector Phil Swanton, of Dorset Police, said: “This is clearly a despicable and senseless crime and must have caused considerable upset to the family involved.

“We are launching a full investigation to identify those responsible and will be carrying out a number of enquiries including exploring CCTV opportunities in the area. 

"I would also urge witnesses or anyone with information as to who is responsible to contact us.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk, via email 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting occurrence number 55190062377.

Not long after the boys died at the Julia's House children's hospice, their story was told in a film as part of the BBC'S Children in Need night.

The Julia’s House website crashed under the weight of traffic after the film aired.

The hospice was inundated with messages of support and offers of help following the charity’s appearance on national television.

People from all over the UK who had been affected by the film posted messages on its Facebook page. At one point the page had nearly 50,000 visitors.

BBC phone lines were jammed by the volume of calls that came in immediately after the film was shown.

Hundreds of people attended the boys' funeral at St Aldhelm’s Church at Branksome.

Star Wars Stormtroopers lined the steps as their coffins were carried in. Each small coffin was illustrated with the boy’s favourite characters, Thomas the Tank Engine for Cody and Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story for Harry.