A WORCESTER woman was horrified to find a blood-filled syringe dumped on the grave of her parents.

Linda Gater discovered the used syringe as she tended the grave at St John's Cemetery, McIntrye Road, Worcester.

Mrs Gater is worried she will have to go back on anti-depressants from the shock of making the grisly discovery.

It is not the first time the grave has been desecrated - a marble angel was taken four years ago, although it was returned and has since been fixed down to stop it being stolen again.

Mrs Gater, aged 53, of Liverpool Road, Ronkswood, said: "I go every week to put fresh flowers on the grave and water in the vase.

"I knelt down by the grave and I thought, Whatever is this?' I looked and it was a syringe full of blood. I couldn't believe it at first. I thought Oh, my God!'. I was just completely shocked and numb."

Her parents Stanley, a printer, and Ruby Freear, a receptionist, met working at the Worcester News and were married for more than 50 years. They are buried side by side under a single headstone.

Mr Freear died six years ago in June and his wife eight months later. Members of the family still visit the grave every week.

Mrs Gater wrapped the syringe in paper and put it in a bin in the cemetery after finding it at noon on Tuesday. She is concerned about the health implications, particularly as her five grandchildren sometimes visit with her.

She wants the cemetery wall raised to stop drug users getting in at night.

Mrs Gater's sister Julie Gunnell, aged 43, of Drake Avenue, Dines Green, said: "It's absolutely disgusting. It used to be a clean cemetery but the grass is over-grown and the bins are over-flowing. I just cried and cried to think someone could do this - to inject with a needle and then throw it on someone's grave."

Phil Burton, assistant parks and cemeteries manager with Worcester City Council, said: "Sometimes people do get in there by climbing over the wall but we don't have any problems during the day. As far as we know it's not being used for drug activities and the toilets are locked at night. It's an exception, not the rule."

Anyone who finds a syringe should call the council on 01905 722233.