Telegraph readers have branded a decision to dump soil on top of a man’s grave “disgusting”.

Ian Hunter’s last resting place at Canley Garden cemetery and crematorium was covered with a huge mound of earth, leaving his daughter Amanda horrified.

The family said they normally keep the grave neat and tidy and were shocked to see a pile of soil around 4ft high covering the grave when they visited on Wednesday night.

Readers echoed the feelings of Amanda with some people claiming the same thing had happened to graves of their loved ones.

Tammy Mc Lewis said: “Disgraceful. Disgusting. Why couldn’t they have put it where she is kneeling? I have family there too.”

Sharon Kristina Price said: “Absolutely disgusting, heart breaking. Poor lady.”

Nirmal Chand-Vim said: “That’s disrespectful, disgusting.”

Julia Evans said: “The exact same thing happened to my dad’s grave at Canley crematorium . It was his one year anniversary and when we went to visit the grave there was a 4ft high pile of earth on top of his grave.

“The other side of the grave that they had dug was clear and they could have put the earth there but no they had to put it on top of my dad’s grave.

“It was so upsetting, we couldn’t lay flowers or even see his grave or headstone, so disrespectful.”

Sheila Louise Keane said: “This happened with my dad’s grave at Windmill Road, they also removed his head stone and plonked it out of the way, they never had the decency to put it back, we had to do it ourselves.”

Amanda Hunter at her fathers grave with her mother, Joy Lydster.

After speaking to staff at the cemetery, Amanda claims she was told that where her dad is buried is classed as a lawn area and that’s why the area was used to dump the soil.

A spokesperson for Coventry City Council said: “Part of the process of creating a grave may, on occasion, result in soil temporarily being placed on a neighbouring grave until the interment has been carried out, as the soil needs to be located as close to the excavation as possible.

“We do appreciate that this can be distressing for people visiting a family grave and we make every effort to avoid this where possible. The grave is restored to its proper condition as soon as possible.

“Unfortunately we are not able to remove the soil completely from the area as this would mean the burial process would take more time and would mean fewer burials were possible, which would lead to delays for families at a very distressing time.”

Some readers felt there should be other options when digging a grave.

Sam Friel said: “I’m not religious in any way but I would be really p***** off if I came to a relative’s grave side and found this, very disrespectful

“There are other ways, can’t they put the soil in a little trailer and keep it off the grass until they need to fill it in again?”

The soil on top of Ian Hunter's grave at Canley Garden cemetery and crematorium

Jan Ryder said: “This is totally unacceptable! What a feeble excuse from the council. If it were my parent’s grave I would be enraged but also heartbroken. Disgusting.”

Sarah Maher said: “Regardless of the cemetery policies, surely a groundsman would think twice about putting soil on a tended plot if there was an alternative?

“I feel for the family.”

There were some people however who felt that it was unfortunate but needed to be done.

Suzi Munce said: “The soil from her father’s grave would have been on someone else’s grave when they interred her father.

“I see there was no complaint about that. Where exactly do you expect the soil to go? It happens with every grave. It was just unfortunate timing.”

Shane McEleney said: “Am I missing the point? You bury the dead under 6ft of soil. It’s just more soil. Granted it’s not pretty and stops you from visiting but soil is soil.”