A MAN has complained that the cemetery where his wife and family are buried is being neglected.

James Roy said that East Cemetery, in Darlington, has deteriorated since January.

He said there was a full-time member of staff who maintained the cemetery, in Geneva Road, until January.

Since then, there had not been a members of staff working at the cemetery.

"It has deteriorated beyond belief," Mr Roy said.

A mechanical digger used to dig graves had left track marks across the grass covering other graves.

"My mother-in-law, two sisters-in-law and my wife are buried there and I don't want it to happen to their graves," he said.

"There are dozens of graves where the flowers have died away and just been left to rot."

A spokesman for Darlington Borough Council said there had not been any staffing change at East Cemetery, but there had been problems caused by wet weather.

"We can damage turf and grave sides, but whatever we damage we cause, we repair," the spokesman said.

"Similarly, we have ordered tracking to help us get across the grass areas without damaging them, and that will help us in the future."

A five-year programme to care for parks, open spaces and cemeteries has been devised by the council, with work on footpaths due to start soon.