Hanbury Church's graveyard is 'heart-breaking' according mourning son

Lee Williams even spent two hours strimming a path through the overgrown Hanbury Churchyard to reach his father's grave during his latest visit. 

Mr Williams, from Badsey in Evesham, said his family chose Hanbury Churchyard because it was"spotless" and "beautiful" 12 years ago.

But now he said he has been left heartbroken because grass, weeds and plants have engulfed his father's grave making it hard for visitors to access it.

His son, Zayn Williams is eight and about 4.5 feet tall and some of the plants were taller than him during his last visit with his father earlier this month. 

However, a spokesperson for Parochial Church Council has apologised to people who are finding difficulty trying to visit their loved ones. 

The council said: "We too are disappointed that it could not be cut and have now started cutting back the grass around graves."Zayn standing next to a gravestone hidden behind overgrown plants (Image: Lee Williams)

Mr Williams said it took him two hours to carve out a path with a grass strimmer just to walk to his father's headstone. 

Even though the route from the car park is a walk of just under two minutes.

Mr Williams said: "It used to be a beautiful place.

"Last Saturday, I couldn't see my father's headstone from the car park.

"It was over my son's head.

"It is so disheartening. It's neglect and it's disgusting. 

"I have to hack through the plants with a grass strimmer in order to pay my respects to my father.

"The route usually takes me one minute and a half walk to get to my father's grave from the car park.

"But last time I visited, it took me two hours to get there.

"I made a five feet wide and 60 feet long path to get to my father's grave.

"My mum went up there and she was in tears.

"She said 'we would never ever have buried him here if we'd known.' 

"He has never ever lived in squalor his whole life and now his eternal resting place is a pig sty."

A spokesperson for Parochial Church Council said the churchyard is largely maintained by volunteers. 

Loved ones have been left 'heartbroken' while visiting a Worcestershire Church (Image: Lee Williams)

"We are sorry that people have found it difficult to visit the graves of their loved ones. At Hanbury, we pride ourselves on the wildflowers in our churchyard, with many visitors coming to visit our snowdrops, bluebells and other flowers.

"A full cut is made across the whole churchyard once a year, which is better not only for the wildflowers but also for the wildlife and the environment.

"However, we do agree that the grass around the more recent graves has got too long this year.

"Our aim is to keep paths mowed and access to the more recent graves cleared.

"Unfortunately, this year has proved particularly difficult with the very wet spring causing rapid growth and difficulty in getting any cutting done.