A widow has thanked the Oxford Mail for an article she says helped Oxford City Council do a U-turn over plans to make her remove flowers and decorations from her husband's grave.

Jackie Smith, 59, of Scott Road, North Oxford, was upset after finding a notice stating she must remove the decorations from the grave of her husband Raymond.

Mrs Smith has lovingly tended the grave, in Wolvercote Cemetery, since Mr Smith died in November 2004.

The notice said all decorations had to be removed by October 31 to allow grass planting to take place.

Mrs Smith said a special stone from her son was among the items that would have had to be removed.

The council said people were informed when they selected graves that they should be kept clear of decorations, but Mrs Smith said she wasn't told of the conditions.

Officials said signs had been put up for eight months, reminding people of the rules.

But after our story appeared earlier this month, the council relented and said Mrs Smith could leave the grave as it is.

She said: "I've been told the people who weren't warned about this will be able to keep the graves as they are.

"The council is writing to funeral directors, asking them to tell people about the rules.

"Hopefully people will be able to keep decorations on graves up there now, but in future families won't be able to decorate them in that section."

She said the council told her about 20 people had called after the Oxford Mail article.

She said: "I was chuffed about that and just want to say thank you very much - it was great.

Council spokesman Chris Lee confirmed some families had not been informed of the restrictions on lawn graves and would be allowed to continue planting them for as long as they wished.