Josephine Gatt went to Lambeth Cemetery in Blackshaw Road, Tooting, last Thursday where her beloved Anthony is buried.

Speaking about the theft she said: “I felt I had let my husband down. I miss him so much. I wish I had gone with him.”

Mrs Gatt believes the thieves got in when the cemetery was closed.

She added: “I think they are yobs, they are evil.”

The solar light charges up during the day from the sun’s rays and gives out a white glow.

She said: “Although he is under the ground, I felt happier knowing he had a light in the night.”

Anthony died in August 1999 aged 77 from prostate cancer. The couple were married 58 years and lived in Tooting before moving to Mitcham. Mrs Gatt, originally from Malta, has five children, nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She said: “I should think I will get a new light but not just yet. I don’t want it to happen again.”

A Lambeth council spokeswoman said: “The light has not been removed by one of our staff so we can only assume it was stolen or vandalised. We are sorry about Mrs Gatt’s loss and we will do all we can to help find out who is responsible for this.”