A GRANDMOTHER whose father is buried at the now closed Rossendale churchyard is delighted work is going to be carried out, but said: "Why has it taken so long?"

June Knight, 50, regularly visits her father Norman's grave in St Mary and All Saints' Churchyard, Goodshaw, to tidy the site and place flowers.

She has a wreath from Christmas which she is waiting to place on his grave, but has had to delay visiting the cemetery because it has been closed by Rossendale Council who are carrying out emergency repair works to nearly 40 gravestones and monuments in danger of falling.

June's father died nearly 13 years ago aged 74. His wish was to be buried in the same grave as his first wife Sadie who died aged 29.

The maintenance of the graveyard had been the responsibility of the church and its parishioners until recently when the Privy Council agreed to it being declared closed. Now the local council is in charge of its upkeep.

June, of Brockenhurst Street, Burnley, said: "That graveyard has always been in a terrible condition and full of potholes.

"I am glad something is going to be done about it I only want to know why has it taken so long?

"I think there are too many graves too close together for my liking. In order to get to my father's grave you have to walk over the top of other people's graves which is sacrilege because it is consecrated ground.

"Why could the church not have asked relatives of people buried there for some money to pay to maintain the graveyard or get people doing community service to sort out the site?

"I think it is shocking that it has taken until now for something to be done."

But the vicar, Wendy Oliver, said the church had gone down all those routes in the past and the legal process to have the graveyard closed takes three to four years.

She said: "We have had teams of volunteers and community service people but the problem is on-going, it doesn't need just to be done once it needs to be done regularly and the church could not afford it. It is also on a hillside and suffers from erosion.

"The majority of people who are buried there, their families do not exist any more or their relatives have moved and can't be traced.

"We are really sorry for all the upset this has caused people but we have to do it now in the short term so in the long term we can have a proper churchyard where people can go and enjoy spending time."

Anyone who has concerns about the work can contact Rossendale Council leisure services on 01706 217777.