An historic graveyard has been given a long overdue facelift - but families with relatives buried there still fear it could be sold off to developers.

For nearly two years the families have campaigned against Methodist Church proposals to sell off the historic Westgate Hill cemetery in Bradford.

But now the church has brought in contractors to tidy paths, cut back hedges and grass and restore gravestones.

Sheila Rush, who lives nearby and whose grandmother and great aunts are buried on the site, said: "They are doing it all up and it's looking very good - splendid.

"It came as a complete shock to me when I saw the work being done - I had no idea. It is great news for all of the relatives."

But, despite the renovation work, there are still fears that the cemetery may not have a long-term future.

Mrs Rush's brother Barry Blackburn said the improvements had made access to the graves much better - but the doubts about the future remain.

"We really don't know why there has been a sudden change of heart and a decision to carry out this work, because they said they wouldn't do it," he said.

"I am pleased to see the place done-up but I don't think that it will change things in the long term."

Mr Blackburn was among a group of residents wanting to form a trust and buy the cemetery from the church. But today he said he doubted if the group could afford the maintenance.

"We would really struggle to finance it because the upkeep alone would cost around £3,000," he said.

"It would also be difficult to lay some of the dangerous gravestones down by hand, meaning we would have to use expensive equipment."

Becky Taylor, who now lives in Ripon but also has relatives buried at the site, said she too feared for the graveyard's future.

"It is definitely still at risk, even though in one respect we are happy that it is being cleaned-up at last," she said.

She said contractors brought in to do the work had to climb over the walls of the cemetery to get in because two new houses had been built across the old entrance.

"At the end of the day, I am not interested in the flowery bits of the graveyard. It is a very serious business and I want to know who is going to look after it. The whole business upsets me," she said.

Councillor John Ruding (Lab, Tong), who has backed the relatives in their fight to save the graveyard, said he hoped the decision to carry out the repairs was a sign that it could be saved.

He said: "If progress has been made on maintaining the graveyard then I am delighted for the friends and relatives concerned and I hope this progress can be continued. If there is anything that the Council can do to help, then I am sure we will be pleased to do so."

No-one at the Methodist Church was available for comment today.