A WIDOW who tends to Worcester Cemetery has defended its appearance - and says she is fed up of criticism over it.

Una Dunnett, who lives in Windermere Drive, told your Worcester News the cemetery deserves praise rather than attacks.

The 71-year-old volunteer tends to the Astwood Road site's Garden of Solace, saying she checks it "every day" and spends three sessions a week making it look welcoming.

She says the cemetery's staffing levels from the city council has been cut from 15 gardeners to just two over the last decade, and insists that is a large reason why the rest of the site is not as kept as it was.

As your Worcester News revealed last month, the council's new Conservative leadership has criticised the grass at the cemetery for being "out of control" and has created a new action plan to improve it.

Mrs Dunnett said: "I looked at what was being said in the Worcester News and couldn't believe it.

"I think it's disgusting. I volunteer there and nobody can say the Garden of Solace is not in good condition.

"I spend around an hour on it three times a week and check on it daily, it's beautiful.

"The council has constantly cut the gardeners down, it was 15 at one point and now there's only two, that might be why they've had problems.

"I agreed to take on the work and I'm proud of it, from my view what's been said is wrong."

In recent weeks Conservative councillors have criticised the cemetery's condition, calling it "undignified".

Councillor Andy Roberts, cabinet member for cleaner and greener, says he is aiming to ensure the whole site is restored back to its former glories.

Last month we reported how 73-year-old Sylvia Hayes, from Weston-super- Mare, was confronted by 4ft-tall grass which obscured the grave of her brother, Kenneth Meek, when visiting the cemetery where her mother is also buried.

Among the other phone calls was Janet Whyte, 75, who lives in Droitwich and had her parents, grandparents and brother laid to rest at the cemetery.

She used her own shears to deal with some of it.