A PARISH council's plans to use sheep to keep the grass short in the village graveyard have had to be dropped because of accusations of baa-d taste.

Councillors in Worsthorne wanted to take up the offer from a local farmer of a group of tups to graze in the Methodist Chapel cemetery so they could save money on employing a lawnmower.

However bleats from residents in the village that sheep trampling over a graveyard was offensive have forced them to abandon the idea and up the parish rates instead.

Today the man who suggested the idea said he was surprised the plans were rejected. Keith Richardson, superintendent minister of Burnley Methodist Circuit, said: "I think it's the most suitable idea, what could be more natural than sheep in a country graveyard?

"They would keep the place neat and tidy and there are many places up and down the country who do this.

"I cannot understand why any person should feel upset about this. Surely it's better than it looking like a mess?"

The farmer who made the offer, who asked not to be named, said: "I did say the council could have a group of my sheep to help keep the grass short, but they decided there would be a lot of complaints."

The parish council has been responsible for maintaining the 100-year-old graveyard since taking over the church, now disused, in 1983 but the role is costing it more than £600 a year.

Councillors voted to increase the parish precept by 50p bringing in an extra £500 a year at their last meeting. And they have appealed to their colleagues at Burnley Council to take over responsibility for the graveyard.

Chairman of Worsthorne with Hurstwood Parish Council, Coun Tony Lambert, said: "We shouldn't really have taken this on.

"Now we have no option but to put up the precept, although we are trying to get the borough council to take over responsibility."

Clerk Carole Galbraith, a Burnley councillor, added: "People in the village pay quite high rates as it is and expect a good level of services so we feel that Burnley Council, with their vast resources, should take over the maintenance of the graveyard."

A Burnley council spokesman said: "A council representative attended a Worsthorne Parish Council Meeting in November on this sensitive issue and we are continuing to work with the parish councillors to resolve the matter."