A mum-of-eight claims a parish council has no respect for the dead after a pile of rubbish was dumped next to the graves of her relatives.

Sharon Larsen spotted the waste while visiting her mum and sister's graves at the burial ground owned by Sellindge Parish Council.

The 47-year-old, who has lived in the village for more than 20 years, reported the rubbish to the Environment Agency after taking photos of the pile.

She said: "I am just mortified, I was so angry to see it in a graveyard.

"Why didn't they get a skip or go to the recycling centre like we have to? They have no respect for the dead.

"How dare they do that in a graveyard where our loved ones are buried - it's disgusting."

Sellindge Parish Council has accepted responsibility for the waste, which was left in the graveyard almost three weeks' ago.

Chairman Stanley Bull said: "The parish council owns the burial ground and the rubbish is being dealt with.

"It's not a permanent thing, we are waiting for a skip and then we are going to take it away.

"It will be cleared, we have been putting stuff there for years."

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