SHOCKED relatives were forced into action after finding a grandparents' grave obscured by overgrown grass in a Wirral cemetery.

When Amanda Davies and mum Jean from Eastham, visited Landican Cemetery they were shocked to see Freda and Frederick White's grave disappearing under more than one foot of grass.

When she complained to cemetery staff, Amanda was told that staff shortages were to blame for the maintenance work not being done.

Such was their frustration at hearing this, the family used scissors to cut the grass in order to make the surrounding area look tidier.

Wirral council said work is underway to tackle the problem.

Mrs Davies told the Globe: "I have never been so angry and upset. We literally stood open-mouthed at the disgraceful sight that stood before us.

"But it shouldn't have been left up to us to cut the grass.

"It's not good enough".

Recalling the moment they found saw the long grass, she continued: "The area surrounding the graves had grown to an unbelievable level.

"You could see a fuzzy outline of the graves and we had to wade through the tangled mess of weeds.

"We eventually discovered my grandparents' grave - only because we knew roughly where it would be located.

"Seeing this, my mother sobbed.

"Burying loved ones and moving forward after their death is an extremely difficult and emotional time.

"However, we do not expect the deceased to be neglected, which is what it appears to be, to this extent.

"My grandmother was a very particular, articulate and beautiful lady - and to say that she would be absolutely disgusted, is an under-statement.

"We were lucky enough to have with us some scissors and were able, with some effort, to trim the grass back to a more reasonable level.

"I cannot understand why or who is responsible for the lack of maintenance at such an important location. Something must be done.

"On entering Landican cemetery the public is greeted with a pristine, neatly-trimmed lawn - fit for a queen.

"The shame is as you travel further through the grounds, it becomes a shambles.

"I'm sure many other members of the public share my disappointed and angry view".

Amanda's 74-year-old father, Michael Watson – who has has recently had a hip operation - added: "Two-thirds of the cemetery is like Wimbledon, with nicely-mown grass.

"But the further you get, the longer the grass gets.

"This is not just a week or two's growth, because we haven't had that much rain.

"This has been growing for a lot longer than that.

"My wife was in tears when she came home from Landican after seeing this.

"All I want is for the council to cut the grass".

A council spokesperson told the Globe: "Unfortunately we are currently behind schedule with grounds maintenance at Landican cemetery due to a combination of factors.

"However, staff are working hard and putting in additional hours to get this schedule back on track as soon as possible".