A Glossop woman claims High Peak Borough Council is failing to maintain the town’s cemetery.

After a recent visit, the woman, who doesn’t want to be named, said bins were overflowing and there were grass cuttings over the graves.

She commented: “The grass around the graves was over knee high and the whole cemetery looks unkempt and scruffy.

“It is a disgrace. We pulled the grass out as much as we could only to find old strimmer grass all over the headstone.

“It feels like there is no respect for our loved ones.

“Many years ago there was notices on headstones that were leaning and they said that they would knock them over. They never followed it up and for such a beautiful spot it is disgusting and disrespectful.”

A spokesperson for High Peak Borough Council said: “Our team was at Glossop Cemetery last week carrying out duties including grass cutting and other maintenance to improve the appearance of the site – this is the time of year when grass growth is at its most vigorous.

“Keeping headstones safe and well maintained is the responsibility of the families who erect them rather than the council but, every five years, we do carry out an inspection to identify any safety issues.

“Where necessary, notices are placed on headstones so that grave-owners can take steps to address any issues.

“If no-one comes forward, we have a duty to remove any risks - often by part burial of the headstone and, occasionally, by laying headstones down,” they added.

“We are currently testing the memorials in some of the older parts of the cemetery and re-erecting a number of fallen headstones that have been left unmaintained, both to preserve the character of the cemetery and to stop them being trip hazards or blocking mowing routes.”

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