A visit to lay flowers at her grandparents' graves turned into an upsetting and distressing experience for a Mitcham woman after she found the graveyard was so overgrown, only the tops of headstones were visible.

Linda Gillam, from Morden Road, visited her grandparents' graves in Streatham cemetery, in Garratt Lane on Friday, May 20, and was shocked to see how high the grass had grown since her last visit.

Mrs Gillam, 69, said: "I had been warned but we cut the grass around my grandparents grave in March because then it was high but it was nothing like this visit.

"It was the first anniversary of my mother's death and she used to visit my nan and grandad there, so it seemed a fitting time to go.

"It really upset me and it made me angry."

Mrs Gillam and her partner Mike Webster, 62, spoke to a member of staff in the office on the day and later contacted Lambeth Council for an explanation.

She said: "The person in the office could not have been nicer and was full of apologies.

"I really felt sorry for her.

"I feel sorry for the other people who are going to see their relatives, how shocking it will be.

"Some of them will be lucky to find the graves."

According to Mr Webster, at least one person has been injured by hitting their leg on a headstone they could not see in the grass.

A response received by email from a Lambeth Council employee said: "I would like to apologise profusely for any distress caused. I fully agree and appreciate that the grass cutting is not up to standard.

"The reason for the grass reaching this length is due to a change in service provider - the council brought grounds maintenance in-house this summer when the contract with the previous maintenance team ended.

"Unfortunately the outgoing contractor did not put arrangements in place to cut the cemeteries prior to the transfer as requested."

According to the council's email, a new team was in place by May 16, and the three borough cemeteries are to be maintained in rotation.

The council has been contacted for comment.