Only approved headstones are now allowed for graves

A new committee was formed at the meeting called Friends of the Foulon and petitions may be raised in the near future.

Its new president is meeting organiser Trevor Kirk.

He said the meeting was not an angry one, but it was emotional.

Approved headstones

The row developed after the Board of Administration said relatives of people buried there could not leave unapproved ornaments, flowers and memorials.

The Board told mourners to remove all loose memorials from the cemetery because the objects prevented graveyard workers from keeping the site clean and tidy.

Approved headstones and vases sitting on them are now the only memorials allowed.

Relatives have been told offending items will be removed after 31 December.

Campaigners against the new directive want locals to be able to remember their relatives with fitting memorials.

They say that they will be prosecuting the States for vandalism if the graves are tampered with.