A BUSINESSMAN who criticised a council over the state of a town cemetery is singing its praises after it cleaned up the problem area.

Cafe owner Sam Zair has commended Wear Valley District Council for its response to his complaint about the poor state of footpaths in Bishop Auckland Cemetery.

Mr Zair called for improvements to be made to the cemetery because weekly visits to family members' graves, with his elderly mother Bernice, were becoming treacherous due to overgrown and water-sodden paths.

The council's community services department visited the site and fitted new steps and a handrail to steep paths, and cleared flood water from one of the worst areas.

Mr Zair said: "Credit where credit is due, the council has done all it could to make the cemetery more pleasant for visitors."

"A Wear Valley District Council spokesperson said: "We welcome feedback from residents about how the council can improve services. This is one example of us responding to comments as positively as we can."