VOLUNTEERS are desperately needed to help tame an overgrown Kidderminster churchyard where visitors have to fight their way through the grass.

Mavis Jenkins said she was shocked when she visited her parents' grave at St John's Church for the first time in five months to find tall grass surrounding all the headstones.

Mrs Jenkins, of Stourport, who is recovering from a broken hip and used to visit once a fortnight, added it was dangerous, particularly for elderly people visiting the churchyard.

She said:" I used to walk in between the graves on the way to my parents' grave but I can't do that any more because I can't see where I am walking. The grass is about four or five feet high -- it looks a mess."

The 72-year-old added it was difficult to see where the headstones were in the churchyard and could only identify where her parents' headstone was because of a hole in some nearby railings.

Mrs Jenkins, who said her husband, Ben, would have helped but was not fit enough, said: "It is a real shame that it has been allowed to get into this state."

She said: "There are plenty of people who could help to get this done. There must be some goodwill about."

Canon Harold Goddard, of St John's Church, said the church council, which was responsible for the site could not afford to pay a team of gardeners to look after the six-acre site and relied on volunteers.

He explained the grass was allowed to grow as there were flowers, such as crocuses, growing and they were allowed to flower before it was cut but, unlike in previous years, no-one had come forward to help.

He added: "The people who helped us last year haven't turned up this year.

"We have employed someone to start cutting the grass but it's six acres and he can only do a bit at a time so it is going to take a while. We want to appeal to volunteers who are able-bodied to come and help us."

Anyone who can help should contact Mr Goddard on 01562 822186.