In October 2006, the Telegraph & Argus reported that the heads of dead animals were being found in Bradford graveyards as suspected witchdoctors tried to con vulnerable people with black magic.

"A warning has been issued that bogus witchdoctors and faith healers are preying on people's fears by selling miracle cures and ritual offerings which are simply con tricks," wrote T&A reporter Jennifer Sugden.

A goat's head had been found by staff at Scholemoor Cemetery in Bradford and parcels containing rotting flesh and other food items wrapped in red cloth and tied with string were found at Heaton Graveyard in Paradise Road.

Paul Smith, principal officer for West Yorkshire Trading Standards, urged people not to "throw their hard-earned money after bogus miracle cures that do not yield any results".

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"We are particularly concerned that these people target vulnerable members of the community," he said.

Mr Smith said West Yorkshire Trading Standards was aware that faith healers and witchdoctors were operating in Bradford and across West Yorkshire.

He said: "A lot of these people advertise their services in newspapers and magazines. Unfortunately there is no offence committed in carrying out such a service.

"However, if a consumer is offered a service or cure which relates to a medical condition then that could be a criminal offence which we will investigate."

A spokesman for Bradford Council's Bereavement Service said it continually monitored all its cemeteries for such offerings and admitted that this year a goat's head had been removed from a graveside.

Margaret Gray, founder of the Heaton Graveyard Community Project, who has found ritual parcels, said: "There doesn't seem to be any particular pattern but it seems to happen more when there has been a full moon.

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"There is usually a sheep's head, rice, spices and some fruit all wrapped up together. It's as though it is an offering or something ritualistic."

Mrs Gray said she found the latest package a week ago when she was visiting the graveyard.

She said: "I just turned up at the graveyard and it was lying near one of the graves.

"Apart from the usual offerings this one also contained earrings, make-up, chapatti dough and a scarf.

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"They are not just left on one grave. I have found them in different locations so I don't think it is connected to a person buried there."

Mrs Gray said she started finding the parcels shortly before Christmas in 2005 and alerted the Environmental Health Department.

She said: "When I first found a parcel I couldn't believe it. I was shocked that someone would leave something like that there.

"It's more likely that they are being put there at night because I think someone would have seen something if they were being put there during the day."

Mrs Gray said she was mystified why the parcels were being deposited.

"I have spoken to a few people and they seem to think that it could be something to do with black magic or witchcraft," she said.

"Someone told me that it was to ward off bad luck.

"They said you have to deposit the parcel and then walk away without looking back to avoid bad luck.

"I have no idea what it is, but I am very curious to find out."

Andy Measey, senior animal health officer at Bradford Council, said: "We are aware of the packages being deposited at Heaton graveyard and have attended to investigate.

"If anyone finds packages like this we would urge them to let us know because animal waste is classed as category A controlled waste and needs to be disposed of at one of our specialist plants."

Khadim Hussain, of the Bradford Council for Mosques, said: "I have heard similar stories about offerings being left in graveyards but not about food parcels being left."

"It certainly sounds like a ritualistic offering or some sort of black magic mumbo-jumbo."

Mr Hussain said there were lots of adverts in Pakistani newspapers advertising faith healers and magicians.

"These people prey on the vulnerable and claim to be able to help them solve all their problems in love and money," he said.