FAMILIES who have built elaborate memorials to their loved ones in a York cemetery have been handed a three-month deadline by council chiefs to remove them.

But a compromise deal has been reached allowing grieving relatives to put ornaments in a special secure area of Dringhouses cemetery.

A grassed area will also be created with benches where relatives can sit for a moment's quiet reflection.

Council bosses complained miniature fences and decorative stone chippings around memorials were making it difficult for workers with lawnmowers and strimmers to keep the cemetery tidy, as reported in the Evening Press earlier this month.

Now officers have met with families to discuss improvement work to the cremated remains area and better disabled access.

All relatives of people whose remains are at the cemetery will receive letters reminding them of the size and type of memorial allowed, and giving them until March 1 to comply.

Dick Haswell, head of licensing and regulation, said: "We are anxious that the high standard of maintenance provided at the site should not suffer and are also aware of the potential safety risk that stone chippings pose to employees using machinery.

"The meeting was about finding a compromise agreement and proved very successful, with around 25 residents coming along."

A number of the elaborate memorials spilled over on to neighbouring plots, which made it difficult for people with mobility problems to get near the plot of their loved one.

Dennis and Barbara Neal, whose son, Gary, was killed in a road accident and is interred at the cemetery, agreed there should be a limit on what was put around headstones.

"If they would returf the area and keep it tidy, I am all for it," said Mr Haswell.

"There was a general consensus of opinion at the meeting that some changes would need to be made if we are to improve the site for all visitors."

The council announced a programme of work in the cremated remains area beginning at the end of March.

Action will also be taken to deal with problems caused by rabbits and moles in the cemetery and a footpath will be made level and moss will be removed from it to prevent it from becoming slippery.

We asked people what they thought of the cemetery compromise

Linda Lancaster, 28, owner of Country Fayre florists, in Dringhouses, said: "We often hear of people having a problem with rabbits eating flowers, so we recommend silk ones instead. Anything to make the cemetery more presentable is a good idea."

Gemma Bishop, 21, a florist, of Cawood, said: "It is a bit silly putting too many things on a grave. They should not really stop people doing it if that's what they want to do but just try to limit it. It is a bit harsh just enforcing it."

Updated: 10:15 Tuesday, November 29, 2005