WATCH: Hundreds protest in Walsall over graves at crematorium and cemetery

Hundreds of people demonstrated in Walsall last night over a row with the borough council about grave maintenance at Streetly Crematorium and Cemetery.

Protestors took to Walsall Town Hall after claims were made the the authority had given them 28 days to remove edgings and flowerbeds from graves at the Little Hardwick Road-based plots, stating that it is a 'lawn cemetery.'

It sparked an uproar from mourners, particularly among the Muslim community, who have accused Walsall Council of discrimination over age and religious beliefs.

More than 2,000 people signed a petition against the move and an initial protest took place in Walsall town centre in August which was attended by hundreds of people.

Campaigners have vowed to attend the meeting in numbers to show the strength of feeling on the issue.

Organisers say as many as 500 were expected to turn up to protest out the chamber last night where the petition will be debated.

The demonstration was organised by Mehboob Matloob, whose younger brother Ramzin Matloob was buried at the cemetery.

Shazia Kausar pictured with fellow protesters outside Walsall Town Hall

Speaking beforehand, he told the Express & Star: "The underlying issue is its been a long-running dispute regarding flowerbeds and grave edgings with Walsall Council for years.

"People should be allowed to express their own sorrow in the way that they wish, regardless of their faith.

"We're not asking for big six inch walls around our graves. We're asking for an edging so we can prevent people from walking over the graves.

"In Islam it states by having grave edgings it will stop people from walking over it. In our religion, it is totally forbidden to walk over a grave."

Protestors manned placards and banners outside Walsall Town Hall in hope of hearing the decision they wanted. Pictures depicting the damage done to graves in the cemetery and placards with a cemetery is not a deposition of human remains were held high.

Mr Matloob added: ""As a community, we are ready to go all the way with them. We are willing to carry out legal action and go all the way until the council realises that they can't do this to anyone else again.

"All we ask for is a resolution but it is like speaking to a brick wall. We are even willing to get our own landscaper in and pay to maintain the graves."

"Lots of people from different religions are saying they have the same problem across the West Midlands. My mother is trying to mourn the death of her son. We want to go back to the cemetery and remember him the way we want."

The long-running dispute was reignited in the summer after Walsall Council issued letters to mourners ordering edgings and flowerbeds to be removed from plots.