A CHURCHYARD that became a wilderness has been tidied up thanks to a group of men.

The six were fed up with the overgrown state of the grounds of the former St Paul's Church, in Quarrington Hill, County Durham, which was demolished a decade ago.

With no-one sure who was responsible for the land, they decided to take action.

With support from the village's youth club, which gave money for a strimmer, and help from some of its members, they organised a clean-up.

One of the group, Billy Jones, of Neil Crescent, said: "There are between 250 and 260 gravestones, including three military graves, but nobody could get in to have a look because it was like a wilderness.

"It was a real problem and nobody seemed to be taking responsibility. We felt ashamed and decided something had to be done.

"People can get to the headstones now. We feel a lot better and the village is talking about it.

"We are really satisfied that we have done it. The only worry is who is going to keep it tidy.''