A row has broken out over who should pay for the maintenance of a church graveyard after it become so overgrown relatives struggled to find the graves of loved ones.

Residents have become concerned at the state of the cemetery at St Peter’s Church, Sible Hedingham, stating it has become wild and overgrown.

Some said distraught relatives had been left unable to locate graves.

The situation has become so bad members of the public have been forced to step in to cut grass and weed the area on a voluntary basis.

Sible Hedingham Parish Council and the Chelmsford Diocese are at loggerheads over who should foot the bill.

The parish council used to pay for the area to be kept looking spick and span, but said new rules mean they are no longer legally allowed to do so.

Ron Volkwyn, chairman of Sible Hedingham Parish Council, said: “In January of this year we were informed by the National Association of Local Councils that parish councils are no longer allowed to give grants or funding towards church premises.

“We are not allowed to give any money for anything to do with the church.

“It is the same with every other parish council where there is an open graveyard.”

Mr Volkwyn said the situation was “very sad” but insisted the parish council’s hands were tied.

He added: “We absolutely cannot do anything about it.

“Some councils are trying to look for loopholes but the National Association of Local Councils is a government agency and we must abide by the law.

“We are not happy with the situation but the law is the law.”

Grass cutting for the churchyard costs roughly £320 per cut, with 18 cuts taking place each year at a total cost of £5,760.

The parish council had initially offered to pay £180 towards the costs, but revoked the offer in light of the new rules.

A spokesman for Chelmsford Diocese insisted the church had been willing to negotiate with the council over costs before talks broke down.

He said: “A lot of wonderful community minded people have been plugging the gap the council has left.

“Someone in the church has generously put their hand in their pocket and paid for the grass to be cut this year.

“But that is not a long term solution. The longer the council spins this out, the more exasperated the community will become.

“The churchyard is not just there for those who worship in the church. It is part of the village and has been for centuries. Loved ones are buried in this churchyard.

“Given St Peter’s were willing to pay their fair share of the costs this year you would have thought a deal would have been possible but it seems as far away as ever.”