THEY united in fury at the dilapidated state of what should be a peaceful resting place of their loved ones.

Now grieving relatives are taking the law into their own hands to clear up an overgrown and neglected graveyard in Southampton.

Distressed families say they have no choice but to hack away grass and weeds at Hollybrook Cemetery themselves in a bid to shame Southampton City Council and return it to a place of tranquillity.

The Daily Echo revealed how relatives wept earlier this month at the state of long grass straggling over graves at the Tremona Road site and the city’s other graveyard at South Stoneham Cemetery in Swaythling.

A Facebook group, called ‘Clean Up Our Cemeteries’, set up in the wake of the row, has attracted nearly 350 members and although the council – which is responsible for maintaining the plots – has cut grass at the Swaythling, Hollybrook remains overgrown.

Steve Plumridge is now mobilising relatives for the community action day.

The 47-year-old of Walnut Grove regularly goes there with partner Noreen Ockleford to visit her late father Leonard Knight and said: “It’s disgusting that it has come to this and people are having to do the council’s work for them.

“But it has really struck people in their hearts – the public see how wrong and despicable it is.”

He is eager to keep the date secret to avoid alerting the council, but continued: “It’s supposed to be a place of tranquillity “Some people sit there and talk to their dead family members to help the deep depression, but can you imagine if people can’t find the grave because it is so overgrown?”

The council has stressed that cutting the grass at this time of year is a “challenge” especially due to the recent wet weather and at a time when the authority is struggling with £10m budget cuts – the worst in its history.

Council leader Simon Letts insists there is a two week maintenance rota and said: “It’s a fact that the grass has grown and more quickly this year but if there is a warm dry spell the grass won’t grow as much.

“It is difficult to adjust to the microclimate conditions but the grass is being cut.”

But Coxford ward councillor Don Thomas, who represents Labour Councillors Against the Cuts, said: “It’s no easy task, but it is a real dire state of affairs when a council cannot keep our deceased relatives graves clean and tidy."

"It extraordinary that these limited resources do not seem to apply when it comes to maintaining the Civic Centre grounds or when it comes to keeping my and other councillor offices and other rooms clean and tidy."

Anyone taking part in the clean-up must sign a register and must be over 18 for safety reasons, although Mr Plumridge is urging people to bring their children with them to make a point.