A man who maintains the graves of his neighbours has blasted the council over the overgrown conditions of the cemetery.

Walthamstow Cemetery in Queen’s Road has been left neglected and poorly maintained according to Peter King, 73, who has lived next to the graveyard since he was a one-year-old.

Mr King visits regularly to maintain the graves of deceased friends from his road, after their families had moved away.

He fears the site is being left to deteriorate to ease planning consent for a future development.

He said: “There are areas that have been left unclear for over five years.

“I have a duty to maintain the graves of my neighbours but the level of deprecation is awful, I think it is just disrespectful.

“The council do not seem to have any regard for residents, past or present.

“There are dead leaves, weeds, roots and even small trees growing out of peoples graves, it is just sad.

“There used to be were field mice, bats and owls here but the whole ecosystem has been destroyed by a weed killer they put in years ago.

“I am just grateful my parents aren’t buried here, they’re in Leyton which is much nicer.

“It has made me want to be incinerated or turned into rose fertiliser or something."

The 11 acre cemetery, which is maintained by Waltham Forest council, is officially full although new burials can technically still be held on some selected family plots.

The caretaker was moved to Chingford Mount cemetery a year ago leaving no-one on site.

Ian Jackson of Boundary Road was visiting the graveyard for the first time.

He said: “The site is so huge, I had no idea it went back so far. It is such a shame about the lack of upkeep it really does need attention.

“There is so much history here it is unbelievable how it has gotten to this state.

“It is oddly beautiful though.”

In 2011 the Johnstons of Walthamstow told The Guardian they were left deeply upset when they went to their family plot at Queens Road Cemetery to discover they could not even see the tombstones of relatives because of thick clumps of weeds.

Waltham Forest council have been approached for comment.