HUTTON Rudby councillors have defended burial ground regulations which discourage the laying of artificial flowers and graveside ornaments, after an annoyed resident suggested they should divert their attention to other matters.

Betty Mitchell took exception to the rules and wrote a strongly-worded letter to the council, stating she was "disgusted" when she read a report about the guidelines.

"It's a pity the parish council has nothing better to talk about than a few flowers. Look at the overgrown parts and untidy areas," she suggested.

But councillors feared she had misunderstood the reasons behind the guidelines, which were designed for the safety of walkers, grass-cutters and maintenance men, as well as aesthetic purposes.

The parish council burial ground is next to All Saints' Church and its grounds. The whole area is close to the River Leven and Church Wood, which are popular with locals and visitors, and rights of way cross the land.

But Mrs Mitchell's letter suggested she felt the council was imposing its tastes on memorial ornaments and flowers on others. Her letter was read out at the recent Rudby Parish Council meeting.

Ann Pyle, clerk, explained that Mrs Mitchell regularly tended a plot where the ashes of a relative were placed. She believed the plot had small stones around it.

The council recently updated the burial ground regulations. But it was the councillors' request for natural flowers and objections to stones, plant pots and crucifixes which annoyed Mrs Mitchell.

After her letter was read out, chairman Coun Judith Follows said: "When I initially read this letter, I thought there was some confusion over information. She must have read a newspaper report or something."

Councillors believed her remarks stemmed from a D&S Times report.

Coun Follows suggested a conciliatory reply to Mrs Mitchell, saying: "I think we should thank her for writing to us but say she must have misunderstood some implication.

"We will also send her a copy of the new rules. Hopefully, that will clarify things."

But Coun John Richardson said the guidelines were not new.

"It has always been in the rules that the parish council can tidy up the burial ground. Nothing has changed. I think if Mrs Mitchell wants a copy of the rules, she should apply for it. If we sent her one, we would be obliged to send copies out to everyone," he feared.

However, Coun Peter Markey differed, saying: "I think copies should be sent out to owners of graves because stones, crucifixes and other objects create difficulties during grass-cutting.