DOG owners who walk their pets in a 160-year-old graveyard are ‘shocked’ at restoration work they claim is ruining its character and wildlife.

Bill Johnson, a regular with his Yorkshire terrier Rinnie, has condemned what he calls savage and unnecessary pruning of shrubs and the felling of young trees and bushes at Blackburn Old Cemetery.

The Brownhill Drive resident said his views were shared by several regular dog walkers at the Whalley New Road graveyard.

Kevin Hocking, chairman of the Friends of Blackburn Old Cemetery, which is supervising the restoration scheme, said the project was only part-way through and the debris from pruning and clearing work would soon be removed.

He said all the work on tress, bushes and shrubs had been done by qualified professionals and was aimed at improving its environment and ensuring families and friends could address all the graves in the 41-acre burial area.

Mr Johnson, 50, said: “When the Friends of Blackburn Old Cemetery started work on restoring it by filling in sunken graves and mowing the grass it was all really good.

“In the last few months all that has changed. Shrubs have been hacked down, including a mature holly bush that has been destroyed.

“They have been felling young trees and it is destroying the wildlife and the character and atmosphere of the place which is why we bring out dogs here.

“There are seven or eight other dog walkers who feel like I do that it is savage and unnecessary.

“We are all shocked at the damage being done which is ruining the cemetery. It has driven out the hedgehogs, the deer and a kestrel which used fly over it.”

Mr Hocking, 68, said: “We are only partway through the work which is done by professional tree surgeons and gardeners.

“The debris will soon be cleared up and chipped for use in the cemetery.

“The holly bush had to be cut back as it was covering several graves and preventing access.

“We have not felled any mature trees but have cut down saplings growing through people’s burial plots.

“The aim is to improve the environment ensuring access to all the graves for families and friends.

“When we have cleared the overgrown areas, we shall replant. The deer are still there and the kestrel is nesting in a nearby vacant factory.”