'It’s very rare that I get worked up about things, but this has really rattled my cage' - pensioner calls for action to improve the 'disgraceful' state of Darwen Old Cemetery.

Marion Jennings said she was 'shaking with rage' when she discovered the graves in the western side of Darwen Cemetery had become over grown with grass.

The 80-year-old, who had been to visit loved ones, said: “It was just like a meadow. I could barely see my mother’s grave stone.

“They’d cut a path up from the cremation memorials, but all the graves were overgrown.

“It’s disgraceful."

The Earcroft resident, who is disabled and struggles with mobility, had made the difficult trip to the cemetery to visit her mother’s resting place on what would have been 104-years-old.

Mrs Jenning said: “I don’t get up to the cemetery as much as I’d like because I’m disabled.

“But I just couldn’t believe it when I got there and saw the state of it.

“It’s very rare that I get worked up about things, but this has really rattled my cage.

“I’m so upset, I’m still shaking with rage.”

The mother-of-one was further infuriated when she checked on the condition of Darwen Eastern Cemetery and found it to be well maintained.

She said: “It’s like the old cemetery doesn’t matter to them anymore

“You think when you bury your loved ones here it will be looked after and they will be at peace, but its not the case.”

A spokesman for Blackburn with Darwen council said: “It is the Friends of Darwen cemetery Group and the Good Friends Community Interest Company that maintain the old and new cemetery as well as Blackburn Old Cemetery.

“We still maintain the Darwen Eastern Cemetery.

“If the lady provides the grave number and her contact details, we will arrange for the Group to make contact with the lady and discuss her needs and their work.”

Mrs Jenning’s grandmother and infant son were also buried in the cemetery and she said she too hoped to laid to rest there.

She said: “It makes me ashamed to think I will be buried here one day."

A statement on the Friends of Darwen Facebook page said: "During 2017 the grass will be cut in the following areas only:- all ashes burial sections a strip around the perimeter of each burial section paths to and around the commonwealth war graves section and paths to regularly visited family graves

"The remainder of the cemetery will be allowed to naturalise with long grass and wild flowers.

"If you attend your family grave regularly and wish a path to be cut, please ring 01254 202019, email info@bsmemorials.co.uk."