DAMAGED headstones and untidy graves at Darlington’s largest cemetery have been branded “inconsiderate and disrespectful to the dead” by shocked relatives.

Residents with relatives at West Cemetery, in Carmel Road, have slammed the condition of the area and urged the council to give it a much-needed facelift.

Images taken at the site show several misplaced headstones metres away from their original grave site while piles of soil and mud are obstructing sentimental memorials of loved ones.

Kelly Weston-Garvey said she was shocked when she found a leaf blower had blown someone's ashes over a memorial bench dedicated to her parents. 

She said: "Our parents bench is in a lovely secluded sunny spot but I maintain the area around it or it would be an eyesore like other areas. 

"I was so upset, I visited and what appeared to be a leaf blower had blown some poor persons ashes and they were stuck all over my parents bench. 

"So many times I’ve mentioned to my husband I’m sure a group would volunteer to tidy it up, aware we shouldn’t need to but people care about where their loved ones are laid to rest. 

"It’s such a desperate situation."

The Northern Echo: Headstones and graves have been damaged at the cemetery Headstones and graves have been damaged at the cemetery

Sue Morley took to social media to criticise the current state of the cemetery. She said: "How inconsiderate and disrespectful to the dead. One would believe when one dies they’d be laid to rest in peace!

"This is obviously deliberate decimation of sacred grounds. Regardless of works being done.. I’m disgusted.

 "The state of Darlington’s streets and green spaces are an eyesore.

"The cemetery is yet another disregard for peoples feelings."

Andrea Whitehouse said she has a memorial plaque for her son at the cemetery and had previously found the place to be untidy.

She said: “Last year all the toys, ornaments were found to be all thrown into one massive pile on the grass behind the stones.

“The plagues were all scratched. The sad thing was, it wasn’t mindless yobs. It was a cleaning company.”

The Northern Echo:

Darlington Borough Council apologised for the damage and pledged to clean up the site after inclement weather caused the damage.

Councillor Andy Kier, cabinet member for local services, said: “The graves and area were damaged by a tree falling earlier in the year.

“Staff have recently dug a trench along the area for a new BT cable as part of the building work which is ongoing.

“The area will be sensitively tidied and reseeded at the earliest opportunity.”

A £6.4m investment was pledged to improve facilities at the cemetery in April this year by the council after relatives raised concerns over flooding and screening.

A new chapel with seats for more than 100 people, replacement cremators and equipment, a modernisation of facilities, and an additional car par are expected to be complete by April 2022.

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