A WEBSITE criticising a decision to close a cemetery to vehicles is urging people to voice their opposition to the move.

Businessman Stephen Longhorn has been fighting for more than two years against Wear Valley District Council's policy of keeping the gates at Low Willington Cemetery closed to drivers.

He has featured the issue on a website about Willington, near Bishop Auckland, which details Mr Longhorn's battle and says the policy is outdated and distressing to elderly and disabled people.

The protest follows a decision by the council's technical services committee to keep cemetery gates closed throughout the district.

The authority says the policy seeks to reduce damage by motorists who drive over graves and damage headstones.

So far, 58 people have completed the poll on the website after reading about Mr Longhorn's concerns.

Eighty-three per cent said the policy was outdated, 76 per cent said local cemeteries were untidy and 79 per cent felt their local councillor was not representing them satisfactorily.

Mr Longhorn said: "Councillors who make the decisions are not listening to the residents who are voting them into office in the first place.''

Leader of Wear Valley District Council, Councillor Olive Brown, said: "I have seen the website and Mr Longhorn is doing a splendid job. I admire his democratic right to set it up and it will be useful for the council to check out people's comments and we'll take them on board."

The site can be found at: www.willington-on-line.com.