VILLAGERS could face increased tax bills if grants cannot be found to fund safety improvements to a graveyard.

Worsthorne residents could foot the bill for the £16,904 of work needed at the graveyard from the former Methodist church.

A report by Burnley Borough Council concluded that work needed to be done to improve safety.

The work needed includes improvements to 33 head-stones and ground levelling for graves which have sunk and the removal of stones.

Worsthorne Parish Council, which took on responsibility for the graveyard from the Methodist church in 1987, said it was trying to raise the money through grants.

But if the money cannot be found, the cost will fall on to residents through the parish council precept. Split between residents, it could be about £20 per household on the annual precept.

Carole Galbraith, secretary of the parish council, said: "The money left by the parish council for the upkeep of the graveyard is not enough. Consequently we will have to get advice and support from Burnley Borough Council's bereavement services man-ager to identify sources of funding and look into raising a precept on the villagers."

Worsthorne Parish Council was left some money by the methodist church when it took over the running of the graveyard.

Ms Galbraith said: "We can't afford to keep it up. We don't have any money and the Methodist church didn't give enough money to the parish council for maintenance.

"We don't have the expertise or the funds to look after the cemetery and it could also be dangerous for children or people coming into the graveyard."

The news came a week after Burnley Council turned down a request from the parish council to take over the running of the graveyard.

Councillors in Worsthorne said they could not afford to keep looking after the disused cemetery at the Methodist chapel because it cost £600 a year to maintain.