TWO historic graveyards could be closed because they are full.

People have been laid to rest in St James' Churchyard, Haslingden, and St John's Churchyard, Stonefold, since 1620.

Vicar Roger Smith has now applied to the Home Office to have both sites closed.

It could take up to a year before a decision on the closures is made, but as there is no space left Father Smith said he was confident the Home Office would grant the closure.

Maintenance for both graveyards would then become the responsibility of Rossendale Council.

He said: "The graveyard at St James has been full for about 15 years and the last burial we had there was last year in a family vault.

"We now have just one more place left in a family vault in St James and one grave space which is booked.

"Part of the St James' graveyard was closed some years ago and the council maintain that area and cut the grass. I spend four hours a week and other parishioners spend an equal amount of time maintaining the graveyard at St James' and St John's and it has been quite a headache."

Genealogy group Haslingden Roots is based in St James' and has catalogued all the grave stones at the sites and helps people discover trace back their ancestry.

Because of the church's connections with the group it regularly receives visitors from all over the UK. Recently it welcomed a visitor from Australia who was researching their family history. Church wardens check all the gravestones once a month to make sure they are safe and none are loose, as there are public footpaths running through the church yard and a school nearby.

Father Smith said: "If we can close the graveyard it will improve the whole area and it will make the place more accessible and can only do good.

"At present no-one can be buried there anyway because the churchyards are full.

"All of our burials go to Haslingden or Accrington cemeteries."