Plans to extend a cemetery near Brampton have been withdrawn.

Hayton Parochial Church Council (PCC) wants to extend the burial space at St Mary Magdalene Church.

But has withdrawn an initial application while further investigations are carried out.

Mike Gilligan, a former member of the PCC who is continuing to oversee the project, said the cemetery could be full within the next year and it is hoped they can soon resubmit the plans.

It would be the second extension of the cemetery – the area currently in use was extended in the late 1940s.

The PCC wrote to Carlisle City Council asking for permission for a change of use of glebe land, owned by the church, to become an extension of the existing cemetery.

It also asks for permission to remove a mixed hawthorn and holly hedge between the existing cemetery and extension.

Commenting on the application the Environment Agency said: “No information has been submitted with this application that assesses its potential impacts on the water environment.”

It recommends an investigation is carried out to ensure water resources are protected.

Mr Gilligan said: “We thought we’d come up with a satisfactory answer [for the Environment Agency] but apparently it isn’t. We’ve also run against our decision to make a decision within eight weeks, so we’ve withdrawn it.”

Mr Gilligan was due to speak to the Environment Agency this week to find out what needed to be done to satisfy them ahead of a new application.

But writing to withdraw the plans he said: “Burials currently take place in the existing cemetery and have never seen any trace of water when graves are dug, which would surely mean well above natural water table.

“This winter would have been a real test of variability and burial took place last Friday, with no problems apart from the lack of the path which we have proposed as part of the extension.”