Community figures fear somebody could be seriously injured in a West Cumbrian cemetery after Allerdale council refused to install paths in a newly-opened burial area.

An extension to Flimby Cemetery has recently come into use, but the borough council, which owns it, has not extended the existing walkways into the new burial area.

The Maryport Town Council members who represent the village have received complaints from people whose loved ones are buried at the site, raising concerns about the difficulty of navigating their way across the hilly, uneven land.

And, despite the town council raising safety fears with Allerdale, the borough council has said it has no plans to install paths.

Councillor Peter Kendall said the dangers increased during poor weather, when the ground underfoot could become muddy and slippery as well as being uneven and grass covered.

He added that the issue was not only a problem for bereaved relatives and friends visiting the graves of their loved ones, but for funeral directors and mourners attending interments at the site.

The concerns come just months after Allerdale council banned visitors from driving into Workington's Salterbeck Cemetery on the grounds that it was damaging the paths and causing a danger to people using the cemetery.

At that time, the council announced it was planning to invest in repairs to the walkways there.

Coun Kendall said: "We have had investment in footpaths at Maryport Cemetery and Salterbeck Cemetery. It's our right to have the same sort of access.

"People going to the graves are not youngsters in the main."

This, he said, meant they could already be unsteady on their feet, and more susceptible to serious injury in the event of a fall.

"I don't think it's been properly risk assessed," he added.

Councillor Carol Tindall added: "Nowhere else in any of the cemeteries in Allerdale is it like this. It needs to be brought up to the same standard as everywhere else.

"We're not asking for a lot of stuff doing to it that would make it an outstanding cemetery. We're just asking for it to be brought up to standard.

"It costs the same to be buried there as it does to be buried in Cockermouth or whatever so why should we settle for second best?"

Councillor Stephen Ashworth added: "There's a duty of care for users of the cemetery. There's a possibility of injury and that's unacceptable. It should be dealt with as a matter of urgency."

The land for the cemetery extension was secured almost two decades ago in a land transfer from Cumbria County Council in preparation for the existing cemetery reaching capacity.

But Coun Kendall said the problem of access had only just arisen as it has only come into use in recent months.

The town council has called for the matter to be considered by Allerdale council's scrutiny committee.

Allerdale council has been contacted for comment.