WILTSHIRE Council has apologised for the "disgusting" state of Melksham Cemetery following public criticism on local social media.

The council is responsible for grass-cutting at the town's open cemetery and Melksham Town Council is responsible for cutting the grass at the closed cemetery, where it is operating a rewilding policy in some areas.

On Father's Day, the councils received a "lot of complaints" about the state of the open cemetery.

One visitor, David Miller, called on Wiltshire Council and Melksham Town Council to cut the grass after condemning their “neglect” of the burial site.

Cllr Dr Mark McClelland, Wiltshire Council's Cabinet Member for Streetscene, said: “Grass cutting in Melksham Cemetery is scheduled to take place every three weeks between March and October.

"In addition to this, Melksham Town Council provide a top up service at regular intervals between our scheduled cuts.

“We understand from the town council that, due to unforeseen circumstances, this top up service is not currently being provided.

“The grass has grown significantly in some areas across the county following the wettest May on record and spells of very warm and dry weather in June. Our contractors are working evenings and weekends to ensure the grass is cut.”

Mr Miller said: “I’ve been down to cemetery to pay my respects to my father on Father’s Day only to see you can’t see hardly any of the graves.

“The whole of the graveyard is totally disgusting and looks so neglected. I don’t understand how we had all that beautiful sunshine and the graveyard is in such a horrendous state, what are we paying council tax for? I’m really not happy and I'm sure I’m not the only one in the town.”

Bea Dodds also complained about the “shameful state” of the cemetery, saying: “I received a return phone call in which the weather was blamed and the fact the cemetery was closed for a day for maintenance.

“I am not sure what the reasons were as to why the grass had not been cut in the previous weeks! It has since been cut but it hasn’t really improved matters.

“Where the grass had been so long around my parent’s plot all the dead grass had completely covered the plot and plants I had recently planted could not be seen. Also the headstone was covered with matted grass. A really sad sight to see. We can only hope the contract is not renewed with the present company.”

Melksham Town Council’s clerk, Linda Roberts, said contractors idverde UK cut the grass for Wiltshire Council and the town council provides support.

She added: "I sincerely apologise for any upset this has caused. We acknowledge this is not the standard of maintenance people deserve.”