A RECTOR who warned relatives to tidy up graves feels he went "beyond what the law required" by placing notices by the church door as well as writing to families involved.

Canon Graham Lyall said that St Matthias Church, in Malvern Link deeply regretted "any hurt feelings caused to relatives of those buried in the churchyard."

Two Malvern women were incensed by notices on graves telling them to remove unauthorised edging stones.

Canon Lyall said letters were sent to the families involved, where these were known.

Co-operated

''A small minority - about 12 out of 2,800 - said they had not received these letters and objected. Happily the overwhelming majority of families willingly co-operated," he said.

The churchyard has around 2,800 graves, and a group of volunteers began tidying it up around four years ago.

"Virtually everyone greeted the improvements with enthusiasm,'' said Canon Lyall, who added that said that the church was applying for a faculty to remove unapproved additions to graves.

"Every grave that might be affected had a notice place on it, so that relatives who might object could know where to send their views, and the address for the Diocesan Registrar," he added in his letter.

"How more fair and reasonable we could be, I simply don't know."