A DISTRAUGHT widow has spoken of her horror after she visited her husband's grave to discover a mountain of debris had been dumped on it by council workers.

The pile of earth and boulders had been left after a new grave was excavated adjacent to the plot, in Steeton Cemetery.

Susan Pyrah, who had visited husband Les' final resting place to lay some flowers, said she was "shocked beyond belief" at what she found.

"It was in a terrible state," said Mrs Pyrah, 78, who lives in Steeton.

"Apparently all the earth and large stones had been left behind over a week earlier.

"I fully appreciate that when a new grave is opened the surplus earth has to go somewhere, but to leave it like that is disgraceful.

"This, together with the council's failure to provide me with any notice of the proposed work, just demonstrates a total lack of compassion and respect for the bereaved."

The grandmother-of-four said it was the second time in as many months she had been upset by the actions of Bradford Council's bereavement services department.

When family members arrived at the cemetery for the interment of Mr Pyrah's ashes in September, it was discovered the wrong plot had been dug.

"Les passed away at the start of the pandemic in April last year but due to Covid we were unable to have his ashes interred until September this year," said Mrs Pyrah.

"Imagine our horror when we arrived at the cemetery for the burial service after our 18-month wait to find the council had dug completely the wrong plot.

"Despite the council having been given precise instructions by our funeral director – and there being a headstone in place clearly showing my husband's name and the plot number – they somehow contrived to dig a hole in an entirely different section of the cemetery.

"This caused a completely unnecessary and extremely upsetting delay to the service, whilst the mourners waited for the correct hole to be excavated."

Mr Pyrah, who worked in finance before his retirement, died at Airedale Hospital on his 78th birthday.

He had become ill shortly after returning from a holiday. His death was put down to pneumonia, due to suspected Covid-19.

The couple – who had been married for 56 years – have three children, two granddaughters and two grandsons.

Bradford Council said it was "very sorry" about the incidents.

A spokesperson added: "We would like to apologise again to those who were affected.

"Our staff understand mistakes in cemeteries can be very distressing and we do everything we can to avoid making them.

"The last 18 months have been particularly demanding and stressful for people working in our bereavement service, however if mistakes happen we do everything we can to put things right as soon as possible.

"We also understand finding surplus soil can be distressing for people visiting a family grave and we make every effort to remove it quickly."