THE tranquility of a village crematorium is being ruined by neglect, a Guiseley man has claimed.

Alec Denton, of Oxford Avenue, has been visiting Rawdon Crematorium for 13 years - but claims the grounds have deteriorated noticeably in recent years.

Mr Denton paid to have a rose bush planted at a peaceful spot in memory of his son, Richard, who died in an accident at university in 1987. He added another rose bush to the plot in memory of parents May and Cecil Denton in 1999.

He claims the grounds were well-maintained in 1987, but on more recent visits has found paths deteriorating, muddy ruts in the grass, flower beds which have failed and not been replanted, and scattered grass cuttings. The final straw came when Mr Denton found his plot was neglected and choked with weeds.

After reading in the Wharfedale Observer of complaints about the state of Otley Cemetery he wrote to Leeds Leisure Services' Chief Superintendent of Cemeteries. A reply said the council had suffered staff shortages this year, and wet weather had made some work difficult.

But Mr Denton said he would like to see money being spent on keeping the crematorium in good condition - rather than spent on schemes such as the unpopular 'Welcome to Leeds' signs.

"We do not expect a free service, and pay up front to cover a ten-year period, but this should give us a right to expect a 'proper' service," he said.

A spokesman for Leeds Leisure Services said: "Draining the wet surface at Rawdon Crematorium, which is caused by natural springs, is an on-going project for our cemeteries and crematoria staff.

"The heavy rainfall in the past few weeks has meant that the surface has become very wet and the grass, which is cut regularly, has been growing more quickly which may have given the impression that it has not recently been maintained."