A GREAT grandmother has joined critics of Worcester's Astwood Cemetery.

May Williams dubbed it "a disgrace" and claimed its standards had slipped during the last four years.

Mrs Williams said she visited the graveyard two or three times a week since her husband Ronald was cremated nine years ago.

She contacted the Evening News after seeing an article earlier this week, which told the story of Worcester expatriate John Roberts who came back to the city for the first time in four years, to discover his parents' final resting place was sprawling with weeds.

Mrs Williams, who has three great-grandchildren, 13 grandchildren and four children said she had been meaning to highlight the state of the cemetery for the last few weeks.

"The entrance path way as you walk into the cemetery is all overgrown," she said.

"Branches and trees are jutting out as you walk past.

"It's that overgrown that I have to stoop and duck to walk past.

"That pathway is used for people coming to funerals and it's all overgrown."

Overgrown

She said she asked officials at the cemetery to cut the pathway branches back last year and although her complaint briefly prompted action nothing had been done since then.

"It was beautiful here four or five years ago, it was a real pleasure to come here but not any more," said Mrs Williams, a retired auxiliary nurse.

Mrs Williams, who has lived in Worcester for 40 years, said she does not take her grandchildren to the cemetery because of the state of the place.

"The grass is so high there in places, I'm disgusted" said Mrs Williams of Rydal Close, Warndon.

"It's a disgrace.

"It knocks the stuffing out of you when you pay so much attention to visiting your loved ones."

Ian Yates, cemeteries manager at Worcester City Council refused to comment on Mrs Williams' claims.