Dogs are running out of control in Earby Cemetery, say a resident and councillor.

A woman, whose husband is buried in the cemetery situated off Cemetery Road, has claimed that it is plagued by dog fouling.

The woman, who did not want to be named, said: “On a recent visit there were two piles of dog mess within a few feet of my husband’s grave.

And, she said some dog owners were ignoring a by-law that required them to keep their pets on leads even when using the public footpath that runs through the cemetery, Pendle and Earby councillor Chris Tennant said that violators of dog fouling and dog control orders had been a target for Earby Parish and Pendle Councils.

“They’re not showing any respect for the dead or the deceased one’s relatives,” said Coun Tennant.

David Alexander, a senior environmental crime officer at Pendle Council, said Earby Cemetery was one of several cemeteries that was patrolled on a regular basis.

“Cemeteries are a major problem for dog fouling and violating dog control orders, but all cemeteries in Pendle are checked on a regular basis,” said Mr Alexander.