Graves are having to be disturbed at Witney's town cemetery because of a shortage of burial space.

Spoil heaps have been left on some plots, and mechanical diggers have left wheel marks and upturned earth on others.

The cemetery, at Tower Hill, is managed by Witney Town Council which says the disturbances are unavoidable until a new town cemetery opens at Oxford Hill in 2004.

Technical officer Henry Westbury said: "We do not want people to think that we are disregarding their feelings. But space is tight and we are having to use machines to go between plots to find room for new graves.

"It does mean that spoil heaps are left on some.

"We are even having to dig up footpaths to find space, which involves the use of digging machines."

Derek Bishop, of Westfield Road, Witney, was angered by the earth works which left marks and stones littered over the grave of his father Harold Bishop.

He said: "It's not nice to come along and find vehicles have been going over my father's head.

"But it's not the only disturbances. There are tyre marks and rubble on other plots as well."

The council has repeatedly warned in recent years that space was running out. But, after a long search for sites, it was only agreed earlier this year that the new cemetery is to be at Oxford Hill, at the rear of the Cogges estate.

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