THE state of Blackburn Cemetery has been branded an “absolute disgrace” by a woman who had to cut down brambles to find her grandparents’ grave.

Ellen Palin couldn’t believe how overgrown the cemetery was, citing 5ft high weeds and un-mown grass.

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“I do not know the last time it was cut. This cemetery has a lot of graves in it. It’s an absolute disgrace. There’s a lot of war graves in this cemetery, there’s a total lack of respect,” she said.

Mrs Palin, of Dukes Brow, Blackburn, said she first started visiting her grandparents’ graves about a year ago and had been monitoring the cemetery in Whalley New Road.

A spokesman for Blackburn with Darwen Council, which is responsible for the cemetery, said the grass is mowed six times a year and the next cut was due after the weekend. After that the grass would be cut in September.

Last month The Friends of Darwen Cemetery called on the council to mow the grass to make the graves in the old part off Bolton Road more accessible for families.