OUTRAGE has been sparked throughout the nation after a headstone of a little boy who died aged four was taken away.

Jo Corbett set an e-petition up on Monday to force Malvern Town Council's hand to reinstate the headstone at the grave of her son Max, who died aged four.

Since yesterday evening, more than 1,200 people have signed the petition from all across the country including cities such as Wolverhampton, London, Birmingham and more.

Ms Corbett, who had the stone placed on his grave in Great Malvern Cemetery for what would have been his seventh birthday after his death in 2013, says she is "truly touched" by the support people have shown since the Malvern Gazette broke the story last week.

The 42 year-old, of Holly View Drive, Malvern, said: "The petition has gone national and I'm so shocked to see that.

"I am determined to get the headstone back on his grave. Hopefully when the council see how many people are backing the petition and the bad publicity they are getting because of it, they may change their minds and let Max have it back.

"To see such support from all over the country is just unbelievable and I'm truly touched by it. It's especially nice to see so many people in the town I live in get behind it too.

"I really want as many people as possible to sign it. The headstone for his birthday was the last thing I could have done for my son, and they cruelly took that away.

"It's so nice that even though he's not here anymore, Max is still touching people's lives and inspiring them. I will not stop fighting this for him. I won't give up until the headstone is back."

The headstone was placed on his grave on Friday, May 29, ahead of what would have been his birthday on the following Sunday.

He had suffered severe epilepsy and dystonia all his life.

On the following Monday Malvern Town Council told Andrew Devereaux, the mason who installed it, that it would have to be removed as he did not have permission to erect it, nor was the design of the headstone in compliance with cemetery rules.

The council says an application form was posted under the door of its offices on the same day it was erected, and that the headstone was placed in an "unsuitable position".

Your Malvern Gazette contacted the council for a comment on the latest development, but the request was declined.

Ms Corbett says she will be handing in the petition to the council by the end of next week.

To sign the e-petition, visit change.org and enter Jo Corbett in the search bar.