A WOMAN has hit out at the state of a graveyard which is so overgrown she is unable to visit her family’s graves.

Jean Holt, 66, said she was ‘soul-destroyed’ to find that weeds and overgrowth in New Row Cemetery, Blackburn, have completely covered gravestones and left some paths inaccessible.

The methodist chapel which lies in the grounds has not been in use for two years and was recently put up for sale.

The minister in charge of the church has said he is looking to enlist the community to help restore the site.

Mrs Holt, who recently visited the grounds in Heys Lane, Ewood, said she could not get near the graves of her father and grandmother to pay her respects.

The grave of her mother Jenny Golding, who grew up near to the cemetery and asked to be buried in the site, has been partially hidden by long grasses.

She said not enough work had been done to maintain the grounds since she last put out a call to get them tidied up three years ago.

Mrs Holt, who lives in Brierfield, said: “It was soul destroying to visit and find the graves in such a state.

“I can’t get to the cemetery by myself and although my husband and I try to tend them, we are unable to take on the amount of work that needs doing.

“No-one collects the dead flowers or cuts the grass around the graves so the whole site looks really awful. It’s so sad especially as it was my mother’s wish to be buried here. I know everyone is having to bear cuts but last time the problem arose we got a community action group to come clean it up so it would be great if something similar could happen again.”

Reverend Yvonne Pearson, the superintendent minister of the site, said: “Since the closure of the church, our priority has been to ensure that health and safety risks remain at a minimum.

“We have carried out a full check of the headstones, trees and wall repairs within the grounds as well as treating a Japanese Knotweed infestation. We are looking into whether the Community Payback Team can help us keep this situation under control because due to our limited resources we cannot afford to pay for professional maintenance, which would cost £10,000 plus.

“The site has a potential buyer but we will continue to do what we can to minimise further deterioration.”