A grieving woman has blasted the "disgusting" state of Newhall Cemetery after grass was churned up where her father was buried just six months ago.

Angry family members have spoken out after a digger left large tractor-like markings down a cemetery gangway between dozens of graves.

Tracey Toone, whose house overlooks the cemetery, has revealed her heartbreak after she said the machine left marks right over her father's newly-laid grave - which was dug less than six months ago.

Ms Toone, 51, who works at Dorothy Perkins in Burton, said: "I am absolutely gutted, they have driven right over my dad's grave which is not even six months old yet and is still finding its level. How disrespectful.

The photos have caused outrage online
Kay Holmes took this picture of the churned-up ground

"The old crew that used to do it used to use the pathways but the new crew are going straight through the middle of the graves.

"The most upsetting part is that it goes straight through the middle of where my father, John Toone, is buried.

"They also used to clear away all the dead grass and it's just lying there now.

"To be honest I think it's an absolute disgrace."

Kay Holmes was also visiting her father's grave when she noticed the state of the grass.

She said: "It was absolutely disgusting. It looks like a tractor has been down the gangway.

"There is no need for it really. It's quite upsetting when you see it.

"Some graves look like they have been sinking because they have been going over with what looks like a big tractor with big wheels.

Kay Holmes took these photos
Another picture of the damage taken by Kay

"It goes all the way from top to bottom and it's not fair really, because if those graves get damaged, who's going to pay for it?

"It's not very nice when you go and get greeted by that."

A spokesman for South Derbyshire District Council said the groundsman who care for the cemetery visited the site "at the first opportunity" to plant grass seed in the areas affected.

A spokesperson for South Derbyshire District Council said: "We take great pride in maintaining our cemeteries to a high standard.

"On this occasion, on Thursday, June 7, there had been prolonged periods of heavy rainfall.

"In these instances, we try and use wheelbarrows and protective boarding as much as possible to protect ground conditions.

"Digging machinery was also required to prepare a burial site, impacting on a section of grass.

"Our grounds maintenance team revisited at the first opportunity to lay down grass seed on the affected area to ensure the site continues to be well maintained."