IDENTICAL twins Emma Stevens and Victoria Smith launched their own small business that is real example of a Love Local. One that is at the heart of the community.

The pair have started the headstone cleaning and grave care called The Graveside Sisters.

They offer a personal and respectful service in and around the Southampton area. The services include deep headstone cleaning, re-lettering, grave refurbishment and general grave up keep.

Victoria said: "We were walking in a local cemetery last year and we noticed a lot of the graves, although not very old, were dirty or had no flowers, which saddened us. "We came to the conclusion that either the family no longer lived in the area or in some cases due to disability or illness were unable to care for the graves.

"As a result we decided to start a grave cleaning business.

"We've been amazed by the response, people are often surprised because we are women.

"Many of our clients who are unable to maintain their loved ones graves very are grateful for our services.

"We clean the headstones and can even take flowers and tidy on a regular basis."

Emma added: "We will begin restoring lettering when the weather warms up. We always leave fresh flowers on every grave we tend even if, as sometimes happens, the wild deer eat the flower heads.

"There are always robins supervising us.

"We both find the job emotionally rewarding and it's so nice to hear how happy we've made the families when they see the results of our work."

For more information, email vicky.jane.smith@gmail.com