THE overgrown state of a Bolton churchyard has sparked complaints from people whose relatives are buried there.

Deane Church, in Junction Road, Deane, has what is believed to be the second largest burial ground in the UK, containing thousands of burials dating back to medieval times.

However, some residents including Frank Smethurst whose grandparents are buried in the yard, have become concerned at the how overgrown and unkempt the ground around the back of the church has become, with many of the graves obscured and falling into disrepair.

Mr Smethurst said: “It’s been like that for years.

“I’ve complained, my sister’s complained, people just walking past in the street have complained but there’s just absolutely nothing being done about it.”

He added: “It looks absolutely bonnie at the front but when you go round the back its an absolute disgrace.”

Photographs taken by Mr Smethurst show the extent of the overgrowth, with many graves completely covered.

Disappointed by the response of the authorities and the diocese, Mr Smethurst and his family tried to take matters into their own hands.

He said: “They just keep saying they’ll get round to it, they’ll get round to it but nothing’s been done.”

“We just keep getting fobbed off.”

He added: “A few weeks ago my nephew tried to get a few people together to sort it out themselves, but the man who was in charge, he just fobbed them off again.”

Mr Smethurst is concerned not just for his own family members who lie at rest in the churchyard but also for the previous generations who, he feels have not been treated with due respect.

He said: “There are people here who have gone through two world wars and this is how they are remembered?”

Dating back to Saxon times, a church has stood on the present site for more than 1,000 years. The oldest records which exist and have definite reference to Deane Church were written during Norman times in the 13th Century.

The Church of England Diocese of Manchester has been approached for a comment.