Sick thieves stole two precious glass jars filled with fairylights placed in memory of loving mum-of-three Ann Stanton exactly four years since she passed away.

Her distraught family — including her husband John and sons John, Paul and Jamie — say they are heartbroken over the outrage.

John, 29, who lives with his dad in Clune Brae, says that the cruel theft has taken its toll on a family still struggling to cope with the loss of a much-loved mum and wife.

He said: “My mum passed away four years ago and it still doesn’t feel real to be honest.

“My mum was such a colourful person.

“She used to say ‘when I go up there I will be the brightest star in the sky’, so we go by that.

“My dad says he doesn’t want her to be left in the dark so he goes up to light a candle for her every day.

“He decided to put the LED lights in two glass jars on her grave on Friday, which was the anniversary of her death.

“We were absolutely heartbroken when we discovered they were gone.

“Seeing my dad’s face when it happened really hurt me, as he puts everything into keeping her grave beautiful.

“Whoever did this has taken away the lights and left her in the dark — why would you do that?” Ann tragically passed away at the age of just 49 after she developed a nine pound cancerous tumour in her stomach. Cancer then spread throughout her body.

She’d visited the doctors for several years but sadly the tumour wasn’t picked up until she was sent for tests after developing a blood clot in her leg.

John added: “It never gets any easier but her grave reflects her personality.

“She was the heart and soul of everything.” The family are now calling for tighter security at Knocknairshill Cemetery.

John said: “Something needs to be done to stop other families going through this.

“This is not the first time it has happened, as a few years ago lanterns were stolen and my friend’s grave was also robbed nearby.

“I think security could be improved, as a lot of people use the cemetery as a shortcut.

“You do see wardens but I think more could be done.” A spokesman from Inverclyde Council today urged people to contact them to let them know of any such incidents.

He said: “People who steal from or cause damage to graves are beneath contempt.

“It shows astonishing disrespect for the dead but also compounds the grief for families and friends.

“Our community wardens carry out regular patrols but we cannot be everywhere at once.

“That’s why we also rely on information coming forward from people who are rightly disgusted by theft or vandalism in graveyards. “If anyone has any information on this or any other incidents we would urge them to come forward and let us know about it so that action can be taken.”