The police are looking for the culprits for vandalizing the tombstone of a young mother.

Claire Wealleans, from Ashington in Northumberland, died in 2022, aged 43, of a rare form of cancer.

Her sister, Jade Armstrong, said the destruction of Mrs Wealleans’ headstone at St. John of the city was like “he’d lose Claire again.”

Northumbria Police Inspector Wayne Daniels said the attack was “despicable” and the force would do everything in its power to “bring to justice those responsible for such a crime.

Ms Armstrong said it appeared a sledgehammer had been used to break her sister’s headstone and it appeared to have been targeted.

Police said the attack took place between August 15 and September 5.

It was just over two years since her sister died, Ms Armstrong said.

She said the family did not tell her sister’s two children, ages 5 and 17, about the attack.

“It’s pretty hard for us to try to wrap our heads around it,” she said.

Ms Armstrong said the family was waiting for a new headstone to be made but it was taking longer than expected.

“We hope to have one by Christmas,” she said.

She said the family was really confused about why it happened.

“We don’t know if it will happen again,” she said. “It’s kind of like walking on eggshells.”

Northumbria Police said anyone with information should contact the force.