Pink balloon tribute to baby after crematorium row

Grieving parents Toni and Glyn Connell paid a moving birthday tribute to their tragic baby daughter by gathering friends and family to release dozens of pink balloons in her honour.

More than 50 people joined the couple at Rotherham Crematorium to launch a bunch of balloons on what would have been baby Violet Honey's first birthday.

Violet died earlier this year after being stillborn at 26 weeks.

Her parents' balloon tribute came three months on from when cemetery bosses Dignity apologised to the couple after causing a storm of controversy when they banned parents from leaving toys on kids' graves at East Herringthorpe Cemetery.

Mums around the world, many of whom Toni had "met" in online support groups, released their own balloons to mark the occasion.

Toni, who plans another balloon release at Christmas, said: "We cannot buy birthday and Christmas presents for Violet so we're doing this instead."

Glyn and Toni, who aim to launch more balloons in future to mark the birthdays of other children who have died tragically young, raised £220 for the Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society with a charity night earlier this month and are planning an auction to raise more cash before Christmas.

q Toni Connell and husband Glynn, with their young family, are pictured at the graveside of their daughter Violet Honey, prior to a memorial balloon release held to mark her first birthday.