A woman has started a petition to stop a council from removing fences around graves at a cemetery.

Allerdale council has put notices at the gates of Salterbeck Cemetery in Workington, stating that fences and enclosures are against the cemetery's rules and regulations and people have time to remove them by May 31.

If they are not removed by the owners, the council would exercise its right to remove them.

Karen Peat, 48, of Wether Riggs Road, said: "I started the petition after a friend of mine said on Facebook that she had been told to lift the surround that she had handmade for her mum's grave. 

"I have loved ones there, we pay for that land, surely that's our land and we can do what we want on it."

She added that two years ago she asked permission to build a wooden fence around her father Stanley's grave and was gutted when she was told she couldn't.

The mother of two grown-up children - Stacey Brown 30, and Martin Wilkinson, 27 - said: "We should be able to look after the graves the way we want to, that's where we put our loved ones to rest and the council should leave them as they are.

"I'm fighting the battle for the community and I'm over the moon with the responses I received."

The petition has been signed by more than 200 people and Karen is due to deliver printed copies of it to local shops.

She has also contacted Sue Hayman, Workington MP, to ask for help.

Karen said: "I think I paid just over £500 for the land at the cemetery for my dad's grave. If with that money we aren't purchasing the land, where is that money going? 

A spokesman for Allerdale council said: "We know what an upsetting issue this can be for those who have lost their loved ones. Our bereavement services department prides itself on the high standard of service it provides, their sensitive approach to people's wishes, and the upkeep of the borough's cemeteries. 

"We know how important it is to all people who visit cemeteries, that they are well maintained and can be easily accessed, so they can pay their respects at what is often a difficult time.

"The placing of fences or other borders without our agreement makes it difficult for us to maintain the cemetery and for others to freely tend to the grave of their loved ones. 

"We have received a number of complaints from customers who have raised concerns about the placing of fences and, understandably, we have a duty to maintain and manage our cemeteries for the benefit of all people visiting. We are not requesting that anyone remove mementos or decorations from graves – but we just ask that they are placed close to the headstones so our maintenance teams can work around them without disturbing anything. 

"It is because this is such an emotive issue that we want to work with those who are visiting loved ones in our cemeteries. Please come and talk to us. Our rules and regulations do clearly state that fences, enclosures and other borders are not permitted but we can advise on the type of surrounds which are allowed. Having heard the concerns already raised we are now giving until 1 July for people to come and talk to us. We shall also be contacting people individually. If, after this date, we do need to remove anything from gravesides, we will also save those items for collection by their owners."

Visit the petition:  Stop the council altering our loved ones graves