Barry Green, 73, of Galway Crescent, visited the grave at Retford Cemetery this week to find the item missing.

"I am really disheartened that someone would take something from the grave of a baby who died at just four days old," he said.

"These people obviously have no conscience whatsoever if they can do this kind of thing."

Tragic baby, Jack Barry Green, died three years ago after he suffered from a genetic disease.

"He had a condition that affects one in 80,000, and he died at Sheffield Children's Hospital."

The lamps taken from his gravestone were about two feet tall and were placed each side of the headstone.

"There have been spates of vandalism in the children's section of the cemetery in the past and I really hope this doesn't happen to anyone else."

Coun Mike Pugsley, cabinet member for environment and housing at Bassetlaw Council, said: "We are sorry about this incident and the distress it has caused."

"We take the care of cemeteries very seriously and all our cemeteries are securely locked at night. Vandalism of graves has not been a problem, but we appeal to anyone who experiences or comes across this kind of incident to report it to us so we can follow it up."