A mum has spoken of her anguish after finding that her daughter's grave had been vandalised, with precious items broken after a piece of concrete had been thrown at it.

The devastated mum, who has asked not to be named, was visiting her daughter's resting place in Hitchin Cemetery on St John's Road when she made the heart-breaking discovery. 

The Comet: Vases had been smashed.Vases had been smashed. (Image: Supplied)

She explained: "The last time I'd been to her grave was about 10 days before.

"I just couldn't believe it when I saw her grave.

"Someone had thrown a piece of concrete at her headstone, broken my daughter's picture, damaged the headstone and broken glass vases.

"There was lots of glass all over the place, and I was so upset. Who would do something like that?

"It wouldn't have been a child - the headstone had been rocked and made loose."

The Comet: A lump of concrete had been thrown at the headstone.A lump of concrete had been thrown at the headstone. (Image: Supplied)

She said her daughter's headstone will now have to be removed and repaired, at a cost of at least £400. 

The shocked mum has also been left wondering why her daughter's grave was vandalised in the first place.

She asked: "Why was it targeted? Hers was the only grave that was targeted and vandalised, and I really don't know why. She's been there for three-and-a-half years."

The Comet: The mum has been left wondering why her daughter's grave was targeted.The mum has been left wondering why her daughter's grave was targeted. (Image: Supplied)

The mum, who has asked for her daughter not to be named, says her daughter was 58 when she died suddenly of heart failure.

"It's horrific enough losing a child at any age," she said, "but now this vandalism to her grave is so upsetting. It's so disrespectful. 

"Our family is so devastated that someone should be so malicious."

The Comet: Even a flower holder was damaged.Even a flower holder was damaged. (Image: Supplied)

North Herts Council says incidents of vandalism in their cemeteries is rare.

Commenting on this mum's experience, Sarah Kingsley, the council's service director for place, said: "This is really sad to hear and we pass on our condolences to the family involved.

"We haven’t received any other reports of vandalism and such incidents are rare.

"If anyone witnessed anything, please contact the police on 101."

The council has confirmed that there is no CCTV in Hitchin Cemetery, but this mum and her family are hopeful that somebody somewhere has some information that could lead to finding the vandal.