'I've never heard of them': Kim Cattrall hits back at the 'distant relatives' accusing her of replacing their mother's gravestone with one bizarrely bearing her OWN NAME by claiming they're not even family

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Kim Cattrall has offended the British side of her family by having a gravestone put up with her name inscribed on it – even though she is only 60 and seemingly in good health

Kim Cattrall has hit back at claims that she hijacked a family burial plot with a new gravestone featuring her own name by insisting she had no idea any other relatives existed.

The Sex and the City star was criticised by her estranged cousin for removing a headstone - which marked where four members of the family were buried - and replacing it with one that included hers and her late father's names.

Her cousin Michelle Cox, 49, accused Miss Cattrall of 'a total lack of respect' for 'bagsying' a spot in the plot in Waverley, Liverpool, without the family's permission.

But Miss Cattrall has now responded to the allegations, claiming she had no idea Mrs Cox - who is her auntie's daughter - existed.

Describing how she was 'shocked' at the revelations, she added that it had been her father's wish for him and her to be buried at the family plot.

The Liverpool-born actress said he had been 'especially proud' when she returned to her home city to star in Shakespeare's Antony And Cleopatra in 2010. The new inscription on the gravestone reads 'the Liverpool Cleopatra', in reference to that play.

She wrote on Facebook: 'When I first contacted the Vicar at Wavertree Holy Trinity regarding my father's wishes to be laid to rest in his family's grave, there was no claim on the grave.

'My Dad died 2 years later in 2012 and he was buried later that same year.

'It was also my father's wish I be buried there as well. We wanted a new headstone including his name and mine (when the time comes).

'None of my British or Canadian family had heard the name "Cox" before 4 days ago. The Cox family are not my family. I have never met them or known of them.'

Miss Cattrall added that her 'coming home' to Liverpool had been 'an important moment' for her father. 

'He was especially proud of me coming home to Liverpool in 2010 to play "Cleopatra" at the Playhouse - he called me "The Liverpool Cleopatra",' she said. 

'I love my Dad and he loved Liverpool as I do. It will always be home to us and our Cattrall family. I am proudly Liverpudlian.

'When the violinist at my dad's grave played "You Never Walk Alone" after the service I had never felt more connected to my birth place.' 

The inscription refers to her as 'the Liverpool Cleopatra', a reference to her much-publicised return to the stage in her home city in 2010 in Shakespeare's Antony And Cleopatra. The original headstone at Holy Trinity Church in Wavertree, Liverpool, referred to their grandparents William and Edith Cattrall, Mrs Cox's mother Edna and her elder brother David

Earlier this week, Ms Cox described how she had gone to visit her mother's grave on Christmas Day when she saw that the headstone had been swapped. 

Her mother Edna is buried there alongside her parents William and Edith Cattrall - the grandparents of both Miss Cattrall and Ms Cox - and her elder brother David, who died at the age of one.

But, when she arrived, she saw the headstone had been replaced to include the actress - who is 60 and in seemingly good health - and her late father Dennis, who died in 2012. 

Mrs Cox, a nurse, said the headstone looks 'totally different' and said she had no idea the actress intended to be buried in the family plot.

Her cousin Michelle Cox (standing, pictured with her sister Diane), 49, has accused the actress of 'a total lack of respect' after she discovered the new gravestone on a Christmas Day visit to the family plot where her mother – Miss Cattrall's aunt – is buried

She added: 'It doesn't seem right that someone who has spent the majority of her life in Canada and the US can come to Liverpool and bagsy a grave simply by putting their name on it.' 

But Miss Cattrall defended her moves, saying she had no idea there was any other family members to consider.

In the statement, she added: 'If the Cox family are related then they have never before made any contact to my British or Canadian Cattrall family.

'I have never met them or known of them. My Dad never spoke of his late sister.

'We never received birthday or Xmas card greetings nor had any idea she had children (as far as we knew she never married) other than an illegitimate child that we knew of that was laid in that grave.' 

Miss Cattrall was born in Liverpool but her parents took her to Canada when she was three months old. 

Miss Cattrall (right, in Sex And The City) was born in Liverpool but her parents took her to Canada when she was three months old. She returned to the city from the ages of 11 to 16 to go to secondary school

She returned to the city from the ages of 11 to 16 to go to secondary school, before returning for her part as Cleopatra. 

She had revealed earlier this month that there was a headstone in Liverpool 'waiting with my name, my birthdate and then a dash and space for the date of my death'. 

She said: 'It's where I want to go and rest when this fantastic ride is over. It's a family grave and there is space left for me.' 

Mrs Cox said she had never met her famous cousin as a result of a family rift that began when her mother met and married her father, who was from Barbados.

Miss Cattrall's father did not approve of the mixed-race relationship, she said. 

'I have never spoken to Kim,' she added. 'When we replaced the gravestone when my mum died in 1985, it was engraved with the same wording that has been there since 1939. 

'This new gravestone is totally different. It doesn't feel like my mum's grave any more. I was absolutely shocked. It felt like I'd been burgled.' 

In an appeal to Miss Cattrall on Facebook, Mrs Cox added: 'I want you to know how distraught we all our [sic] at your total lack of respect. I am not sure if what has been done is legal but I will be seeking legal advice.'