Cumberland Council has reminded local residents not to leave ‘non-natural’ items on graves at Carlisle Cemetery on environmental grounds.

The council has asked that such items – which include vases or decorations such as teddy bears – be removed to ‘comply with regulations.’

A spokesperson for Cumberland Council said: “To preserve the natural beauty of Carlisle Cemetery’s woodland burial area, we would like to kindly remind everyone that non-natural items such as vases, lights or decorations should not be placed on the graves.

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“If any have been placed, kindly remove them soon to comply with the regulations.”

The Council has also reminded residents that from Sunday, October 27 the Carlisle Crematorium gates, plus the three gates leading into Carlisle Cemetery, will be locked at 5pm each evening as the evenings get darker following the clocks going back.