A COUNCIL has been accused of petty bureaucracy and trying to make money from the relatives of the dead.

About 50 families with relatives buried at Maldon Cemetery, in London Road, have been sent letters telling them to remove unauthorised memorials and other items from graves.

Maldon District Council says they do not comply with regulations and will remove them if the families do not.

The inspections are set to continue across the district.

One family said the authority was going too far.

Craig Sutherland died about two-and-a-half years ago, aged 29, and his family, of St Giles Close, Maldon, said their grieving was being interfered with.

Craig’s mum Jane said: “This is upsetting for everyone. We go up once a week to visit and look after the grave.

“But the council is not interested. We were told if we don’t remove items within 14 days then the council will remove them.

“They are doing this because they have not got anything better to do. It is not overcrowded as long as we keep it tidy.

“But we will not take any notice. We will still put cards on and a little birthday cake. We have had sentimental things ever since he died. It is really none of their business.

“They try to make money even when people are dead. He is our boy so our standards are going to be better than theirs. They want everyone to have memorial vases at £250 and we are still paying for the headstone, so we can’t afford them.

“How can someone go up and look round and say what should not be there?”

Maldon District Council says everyone was told about the rules in May. A statement from the authority confirmed 50 out of 2,000 graves breached the rules due to “additional personal tributes and glass vases”.

The council said a balance had to be found between leaving families to look after graves and ensuring maintenance can be carried out.

It offered to speak to any families with concerns to discuss a “suitable compromise”.