A FAMILY from Newport have said they are “disgusted” Newport City Council is allowing graves to be dug on paths in St Woolos Cemetery.

Husband and wife Mike and Celia Dinham, and their daughter Stephanie, visited two relatives' graves at the Newport cemetery on Sunday.

Mr Dinham said he was “shocked” to see graves had been dug on one of the paths in the cemetery.

But Newport City Council said it is a former path in the cemetery and was used to make a most of the space which was left.

But Mr Dinham said: “I’m totally disgusted at this decision, I wouldn’t bury my pet budgie there.

“I have not been up there for a year. It was fine there from what I remember before. I went up there on Sunday to visit my Gran’s grave and on the path new graves have been dug.

“Some of the graves are really nice but they have been dug on a soil path.”

Mr Dinham's grand-mother and Mrs Dinham's mother are both buried at the cemetery.

Mrs Dinham said: "It looks terrible. I would be absolutely mortified if one of my relatives was buried there.

"I know they are short of space but they could have put soil and grass down before the burial.

"When you know it has been a path, and you've used it as a path, it's heart-breaking."

Mr Dinham added: “There’s no way you can get to some other graves now without walking over others which is quite disrespectful.

“If I saw someone walking over my Gran’s grave I wouldn’t be happy.”

But a spokeswoman for the council said: “To maximise the use of the remaining available space, graves have been dug along a former path at St Woolos Cemetery.

“Once all graves have been dug in this area it will be suitably landscaped in keeping with the surrounding area.

“This is common practice in cemeteries throughout the country and alternative paths are available. “