A March family have been given permission to remember their loved one with a modern looking headstone featuring a 3D monkey following an appeal with Fenland District Council.

Cambs Times: New unusual headstone to hail the beginning of new style type gravestones at the cemetery. Picture: Steve Williams.New unusual headstone to hail the beginning of new style type gravestones at the cemetery. Picture: Steve Williams. (Image: Archant)

The memorial shows a monkey peeping around the edge of the gravestone and was made abroad after it was commissioned by town specialists, Kent Memorials in Station Road.

The headstone was initially turned down for the Eastwood Cemetery plot by Fenland District Council but following an appeal and a site meeting the stone was given the go-ahead.

Phil Hughes, head of leisure, said: “This is a really positive sign of the way things are going.

“We have been open minded to the wishes of relatives who want to remember their loved one in this way. It is about individual choice and we have been happy to honour that.

Cambs Times: New unusual headstone to hail the beginning of new style type gravestones at the cemetery. Picture: Steve Williams.New unusual headstone to hail the beginning of new style type gravestones at the cemetery. Picture: Steve Williams. (Image: Archant)

“The headstone fits with the required sizes.”

Paul Yates, 45, died in July last year following a long illness. For his ex wife Wendy and 26 year old daughter Samantha it was important that they remembered him in a way that was individual to him.

Mrs Yates, of Gold Street, said: “He was passionate about wildlife but loved monkeys that he used to adopt in the wildlife sponsorship programmes.

“We called him little monkey. Although we split in 1990 we remained good friends and it was important that we remembered him using a headstone that was personal to him.”

Cambs Times: Wendy Yates, New unusual headstone to hail the beginning of new style type gravestones at the cemetery. Picture: Steve Williams.Wendy Yates, New unusual headstone to hail the beginning of new style type gravestones at the cemetery. Picture: Steve Williams. (Image: Archant)

“We are really pleased that the council let us use it. It means a lot to us.”