An Adelaide family has launched a petition calling for their son’s gravestone to be returned after it was removed from a local cemetery for being “too offensive”.

Arthur Bridge’s son Peter died in April last year aged just 33 after a lifelong battle with cystic fibrosis.

When the time came to choose a headstone for Peter’s grave, Arthur decided to choose something to reflect his son’s sense of humour.

The cheeky tombstone marked his grave for months at the Enfield Memorial after his death - until the 16th of January, when it was removed for being “too offensive”.

In a petition to have the tombstone returned, Arthur has expressed his outrage at the decision.

A tiny image of Peter giving the middle finger was included on his tombstone. Credit: change.org

“There are a ridiculous amount of reasons as to why this is not acceptable,” he wrote.

“First and foremost, we were not even notified of his headstone’s removal - there was absolutely no regard for the memory and resting place of our boy.

“Secondly, the picture of Peter is so small, you’d have to be standing right in front of it to even see it properly.

“If his picture did offend someone, why is it anyone’s problem but theirs? That is our son’s personal resting space.”

Number of complaints

The Adelaide Cemeteries Authority has told 7NEWS it received a number of written and phone complaints from the public about Peter’s tombstone.

“Numerous attempts were made to call the Bridge family to discuss this before the monument was removed. Our calls were not returned,” Chief Operations Officer Michael Robertson said.

“Adelaide Cemeteries has since met with the Bridge family on a number of occasions to try to resolve the issue.

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Robertson said the authority offered “a number of solutions” to the family and offered to meet any costs involved but those offers were declined.

“Adelaide Cemeteries remains prepared to work with the Bridge family to find a solution.”

The petition to reinstate the tombstone has reached nearly 2,500 signatures since it was posted.

7NEWS.com.au has reached out to Arthur Bridge.