RELATIVES of people buried in Wootton Bassett cemetery are being told to make sure their plots don't look out of place.

In the latest drive to ensure all the graves in the graveyard are of uniform appearance, Wootton Basset Town Council has attached letters to 10 headstones asking relatives to remove unsuitable edging materials.

Deputy town clerk Wendy Marchment explained: "As a council, we are keen to make sure our cemetery is kept looking at its best. We are not strict on things like the wording on headstones or putting down artificial flowers, but we do not want people putting down edging around the graves."

She said unsuitable edging included plastic fencing, household bricks and garden edging materials.

The crackdown follows a similar move by the council two years ago when about 12 graves were identified as being out of keeping with the rest of the cemetery. Families were asked to upgrade them.

Retired maintenance engineer John Hardy, 70, of Evleigh Road, Wootton Bassett, was among those targeted.

He said: "At the time I had put some garden edging stones around my parents' grave because it is on a slope. I did it to keep the soil in. The council just came along and removed them and turned it back to turf. I was really annoyed.

"Just recently, I pointed out that a number of other graves in the cemetery had been given edgings of wood and stones. They don't bother me at all, but I felt that it was unfair that I had been told to change my parents' grave. I think everyone should be allowed to care for graves however they want."

Wootton Bassett Town Council say the enforcement is not only for aesthetic reasons, but also on safety grounds.

Mrs Marchment said: "There are many cases throughout the county where serious injuries have been sustained by people who have tripped over unsuitable edging materials. The town council is not only committed to removing these potential hazards but also wishes to maintain the high standard of appearance in the cemetery. The council hopes people understand the need for this work and support the action taken."