Church leaders are to act immediately after complaints from relatives visiting graves at a disused churchyard.

All Saints Church in Vange has been locked up and is no longer used for religious services.

But a gate put up to prevent fly-tippers dumping their rubbish means cars can no longer park there.

Relatives have complained it has become nearly impossible to park close by and and they are forced to walk up a hill with gardening tools used to maintain the cemetery.

Now the Rev Philip Banks, from the Chelmsford Diocese, has promised to raise the issue with church commissioners and the council.

He said: "Clearly this is distressing for all concerned, especially those tending graves - we will definitely be taking this matter up..

"We hope that through consultation, it will be possible to address this upsetting problem."

Ruth Graco, 49, has her great grandparents, grandparents and uncle all buried in the graveyard.

The casket containing the ashes of Mrs Graco's late mother, Phyllis Longhurst who died last year, is also buried in the garden of remembrance.

She has been trying to get something done to make access easier since August last year, and wants to see a car park opened nearer the church.

Mrs Graco, of the Willows, Pitsea, said: "I've phoned the council and spoken to the church representative, my local councillor, but I just feel like I'm getting fobbed off and passed from one person to another.

"There's going to be a terrible accident up there if something isn't done.

"I saw one old lady have to get out of her wheelchair and stand while her son carried it over the other side because it couldn't get through.

"Old people can't be expected to carry their gardening equipment up and down the hill.

She added: "The pathway also definitely needs doing, as I've slipped on it before now."

A spokesman for Basildon Council said: "In October last year, we took over the maintenance of the church yard which involves cutting the grass once a year.

"Parking provision is not part of that remit and this would have to be addressed through the church commissioners."

Difficult - Basil Longhurst with his daughter Ruth Graco

Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY

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