A WORCESTER expatriate visiting his birthplace for the first time in four years was heartbroken to discover his parents' final resting place was sprawling with weeds.

John Roberts said Worcester City Council should be ashamed of the way Astwood Cemetery had been neglected over the years - especially as he was told it was down to "cost-cutting".

The Canadian citizen, who had been staying with his sister in Fernhill Heath, said during their visit he and his wife were met with knee-high grass and overgrown weeds in the "sad and neglected" grounds.

"We were shocked to see the poor conditions in which much of the cemetery was kept," he said.

"While the area immediately around the garden of remembrance was well manicured - presumably because it is most visible to people attending funerals - the rest of the grounds were in a disgusting state."

The 57-year-old, whose parents had lived in the city's Bath Road, said when he quizzed a maintenance worker he was told it was due to "cost-cutting".

"He told me there were not enough staff to address the workload and the grass in many areas had yet to be cut this year," he said.

"He also said there were too many bosses and not enough workers.

"We were heartbroken to see the last resting place of our parents in such a sad state as they, the others resting there, and their families, deserve much better.

"Shame on the management for letting this happen and allowing cost cutting to take precedence over the memory and respect of our loved ones."

In February, care home worker David Stanley claimed mourners were faced with vandalism, poor facilities and drug dealing while paying their respects at the cemetery.

Council cemeteries officer Ian Yates vowed to look into the problems and conduct a consumer satisfaction survey - the results of which are still being compiled.

But yesterday, he did confirm the lawn area and the older part of the cemetery, highlighted by Mr Roberts, were maintained to different standards.

"The newer part has always received different treatment, partly because the older part cannot be box mowed due to the closeness of the memorials," he said.

"We can only do as much as the budget allocated by the council members will allow and, hopefully, we are still catching up with the surge in grass growth at this time of year.

"As for the alleged comments from a worker, we have not reduced the workforce and I disagree that the grass hasn't been cut at all this year.

"I do worry when people are not happy and will investigate whether the set standards are being met."