CONTROVERSIAL cemetery rules restricting the personalisation of children's graves in Torfaen were unanimously approved on Tuesday.

Torfaen councillors endorsed the cemetery regulations, which have caused heartache to grieving parents.

Campaigners collected more than 5,000 signatures calling on Torfaen council to leave children’s graves alone last year.

They argued that removing items like solar lights and windmills from babies’ graves was “heartless”.

Torfaen council subsequently revised the rules in light of the campaign but the regulations still stop families from placing such mementoes on children’s headstones.

The new regulations state that chimes, windmills, solar lights and mementoes that move are not be allowed to "maintain the sanctity of cemeteries", as they are considered "inappropriate" in these settings and can "cause nuisance" to those living around the burial grounds.

Mum-of-eight Catherine Board, 39, a leading Torfaen Grave Action Group campaigner, likened the new regulations as the “same old rules with different words”.

But councillors unanimously endorsed the rules at a full council meeting at Pontypool Civic Centre on Tuesday [April 14].

Torfaen council said it had consulted widely with a number of groups including the petition group, community councils and a service user and people’s panel focus group.

The council also pledged to revise the rules every two years and form a Cemetery Friends' Group.

Torfaen council head of street scene and waste, Dana Eynon, told the meeting: “This is a very difficult and emotive subject.

“We’re trying to strike a balance between the needs of the individual bereaved, but at the same time the general bereaved, and we are also acutely aware that whatever is decided today it is highly likely that we won’t be able to satisfy everybody’s needs individually.

“But I think by having an agreement to review them every two years and also a Cemeteries Friends’ Group we’ll at least be able to work through any suggestions that are made going forward to ensure we keep pace with our changing society.”

Opposition leader, Independent Cllr Liz Haynes, had assisted families in their campaign.

She told the meeting: “I’m mindful that we have to have a policy and I do believe that a lot of the things have been taken into consideration.

“I’ve been very grateful for the apology given by council, you know the way that it was originally handled, Welsh Government called it bullish and heavy handed, I am grateful for the acknowledgement, and I know the group were grateful for the acknowledgement that it wasn't particularly handled very well.”