CONCERNSs have been raised about the 'heart-breaking' state of the old Largs cemetery on Haylie Brae.

Largs man Christopher Hill has been investigating his family tree but was shocked to see the condition of the cemetery during his research work.

Christopher, who was born and bred in the town, and returns from his new home in Sweden to see his family every summer, says he has seen a deterioration in the cemetery in recent years.

It used to be the main cemetery in town until the new facility was built at Brisbane Glen Road around 10 years ago.

He said: "One of the things that has really disappointed me on my return to Largs is the state of the cemetery.

"Nearly every stone has a sticker on it warning about health and safety; some stones have been pushed over.

"The state of the cemetery this year compared to my visit last year is just heart-breaking when you see it."

In 2015, a total of 559 gravestones at the Haylie Brae cemetery in Largs failed a safety inspection carried out by North Ayrshire Council.

The council then placed stickers on the graves which are considered unstable, to alert families who are visiting gravestones.

Some of the graves at the Haylie Brae cemetery have been there for many years.

Christopher said: "This is a big bit of history that is disappearing.

"Even small stones have stickers on them - I don't know if they are being over zealous or not but it is very sad."

The council say they regularly carry out inspections on all headstones within our cemeteries.

Any memorial which fails the safety inspection is labelled to ensure that visitors are aware the memorial is unsafe, and the council cemetery staff may also stake and tie the memorial, or lay it flat, if it is considered to be a significant risk.

NAC comment to follow........