A GRIEVING family were left standing at the graveside as diggers worked to make it deeper.

The funeral at Burnley cemetery was delayed for about an hour because of the mix-up over the requirements for a Moslem interment.

Family friend Burnley councillor Mozaquir Ali said he was saddened and angered at the added hurt caused to the family.

The funeral was of an elderly widow who died in Wales but who had asked to be buried in Burnley where her family live. Her son and two daughters were among the 50 mourners who went to Burnley cemetery for the interment service yesterday afternoon.

Coun Ali described the arrangements they found as "primitive''.

The grave, he said, was not deep enough for a Moslem burial and there was no slab to prevent soil falling directly on to the coffin.

He said: "What was done was in total disregard to a decision of the recreation and leisure committee about the requirements for Moslem funerals.

"It caused a lot of distress and I am appalled at what happened. Her family are very distressed and upset.'' Coun Ali said that, following consultations with imams, it had been agreed that one or two graves for Moslem burials would be dug in advance to make sure everything was done according to their religious beliefs.

He added: "What happened is totally outrageous. The men who dug the grave said they did not know about the arrangements.

"At first they did not want to dig the grave deeper. We had to wait about an hour. We were all standing by the graveside, so you can imagine the upset and distress it caused.''

Parks services manager Vincent Gradwell said he was telephoned while the mourners were in the cemetery and he immediately arranged for the grave to be further excavated.

It was originally dug to the standard depth of 4ft and increased to 6ft.

He said he was told the grave had to be dug to a depth of at least the height of the person to be buried, something he had not been aware of.

Mr Gradwell said a report on Moslem burials had been considered by the recreation and leisure committee last August. Consultations had taken place and it had been asked forsome graves to be dug in advance with the sides lined like a vault.

Agreement had not been finalised and a new report on the situation was being prepared for the October meeting of the committee.

Mr Gradwell said he regretted any distress caused.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.