Please let Kyle rest in peace

Ten-year-old Kyle Munday, a devoted Newcastle United fan and a member of Adur Athletic Club's under-11s football team, died in April last year from an infection following an operation.

He is buried in the council-run Lancing and Sompting cemetery.

His parents, Andy and Sophie, wanted to have black and white footballs and the words Newcastle United etched on the back of the gravestone.

Mr Munday claimed that in January the council refused permission for the design and told them that the words Newcastle United would attract the wrong sort of people to the cemetery.

Mr Munday said they then asked if football patches could be etched on the back of their son's gravestone, but Adur Council again refused permission.

The grave is currently marked with a cross, and Mr and Mrs Munday have made an official complaint to the council about the decision.

Mr Munday said: "We just want the whole situation resolved. The delays over this are upsetting. The council are being heartless."

Council chief executive Ian Lowrie said there were no other gravestones with inscriptions on the back and that he had written to Mr and Mrs Munday about the decision.

Mr Lowrie said: "Mr and Mrs Munday's son is buried in a family plot in the main part of the cemetery.

"A cemetery is a place where people come to visit the graves of loved ones. We are ever conscious of the need to keep the look of the cemetery as dignified as possible for those families who already have their loved ones buried there, as well as those erecting new memorials.

"Mr and Mrs Munday have now been through the council's complaints procedure and we are sorry they can't accept our findings.

"We would like to assure the family that we have given this matter very careful and sincere consideration."