VOLUNTEERS are being sought to help clean up Blaenavon’s historical cemeteries and turn them into worthwhile community spaces.

Blaenavon Town Council have set up the cleaning project with local support and are looking for helpers and funding to maintain of two of the towns oldest and overgrown sites at St Peter’s Church and Bethlehem Chapel.

Member of the project team Nathan Mathews, said: “The project has three aims, to open up green spaces in the heart of the town for the community to enjoy, and at the same time uncover graves of generations of Blaenavon residents lost to the undergrowth.

“We also want to highlight the history of the people in the graveyard and the part they played in the development of the Town. There is a huge amount of work to be done but we are confident in achieving this if we work together as a community.”

Thousands of people have been buried in the two graveyards since they were built in the 1800s, including ironmasters and many soldiers who lost their lives in the First and Second World Wars.

Reverend Rufus Noy, of St Peter’s Church, said: “These cemeteries have become neglected spaces in the town but have great potential to become fantastic community resources.

“Not only will the end result be some fantastic open spaces in the heart of the community but uncovering the many graves will help rebuild the connection between historical Blaenavon and today’s town.”

Anyone interested in getting involved can call Rod Denley-Jones on 07794 574 572 or visit the team’s stand at the Blaenavon Spring Fair on Saturday May 14 or at World Heritage Day on Saturday June 26.