A BLACKPOOL couple are furious at the state of the cemetery where their little girl is laid to rest.

Francois Bruneel and his wife Jennifer saw their eight-year-old daughter Amanda buried at Thornton Parish Church Christ Church C Of E, on Meadow Avenue, after she lost her battle against meningitis more than 18 months ago.

But now the couple say they are regretting the decision after seeing the cemetery become untidy and overgrown.

Francois, of Knowsley Grove, Thornton, said: "It's an absolute disgrace and I'm completely disgusted.

"Parts of the cemetery are literally waist high in grass and I now feel ashamed that my daughter is buried there.

"I go to see Amanda for comfort. It's somewhere I can go and talk to her, but I cringe when I go there now.

"It's a mark of respect that these grounds should be kept tidy, but they're not. Even when the grass is mowed it's just left there. What really annoys me is that it was the people of this community who clubbed together to pay for the headstone with a fund-raising event.

"People raised around £1,500 and it would be nice if the headstone was clearly visible. But while some areas are a mess, other areas of the cemetery are quite neat and tidy. I just can't understand it.

"I've tried to get hold of the vicar, but when I go round there to have a chat he's never there."

A spokesman for the church said: "Admittedly the church has been unable to care for and maintain the standards of the grounds in the way they would have liked.

"However, this is now being addressed with a major clean up operation which will get under way as soon as possible.

"I don't think this is a case of certain areas being tidied and others not. It's a case of getting the whole place up to grade and inevitably some areas will be tidier.

"The church is very concerned and aware of the problem. We regret any unhappiness or inconvenience that has been caused to bereaved families."

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