A MAN has spoken of his distress at the overgrown state of the cemetery where his granddad is buried.

Mohammed Ahmed, from Blackburn, said the unkempt condition of the Muslim section of Pleasington Cemetery, was ‘disgusting’.

He has contacted Blackburn with Darwen Council and said that, although the grass has been trimmed around his granddad’s grave, it remains ‘knee length’ deep in other parts of the cemetery.

Mr Ahmed, 21, of Buncer Lane, said: “Despite numerous calls to Blackburn with Darwen Council, I had no reply about the state of the grass in the Muslim section of the cemetery up until recently. They’ve now cut the grass around my granddad’s grave but they haven’t done other parts of the cemetery.

“Other family members have cut their feet whilst visiting my grandad’s grave.

“It is knee-deep in height and you’ve also got problems with bins not being emptied.”

Mr Ahmed said the family have regularly visited the grave since their granddad died 25 years ago.

He added: “It’s disrespectful to families who have lost loved ones.”

Cllr Jim Smith, environmental services boss at the council, blamed a limited number of staff for the delay.

Cllr Smith said the grass is due to be cut shortly in line with the council’s schedule.

He said: “We have a limited number of staff at the cemetery, whose immediate priority is to handle burials.

“Grass cutting takes place in sections around the cemetery so this section is due to be cut shortly.

“Once we have cut this section, there will be other sections of the cemetery that would be similar to this due to the summer being peak growing season.

“We have provided the Brookhouse Development Group with tools and equipment to help maintain the Muslim section, in addition to our services."