Parents distraught as baby graves regularly flood

Jessica Lymn visits her son Finnley's grave regularly and said it was "unbearable" when the plot was flooded

Bereaved parents are calling for more to be done to prevent their children's graves being flooded at a cemetery in the Black Country.

Families of babies and infants buried at North Walsall Cemetery, near Bloxwich, said their loved ones' plots were regularly waterlogged following heavy rain.

In 2020, Walsall Council invested £200,000 on improvements at the site on Saddleworth Road, following a campaign by families.

However, families have told the BBC that flooding continued to affect graves, causing distress to those who visit.

Flooding at the cemetery in 2020 led to drainage improvement works

Leanne Halls-Albutt's son Ruben was laid to rest at the cemetery in 2020. She joined a call for improvements to be made four years ago and said she believed more work was needed.

"They can do a lot more to protect mine and other people's babies that are here."

She said seeing the graves in a flooded state caused heartbreak for families.

She added: "I can't put it into words without getting upset. It's horrible. I don't come in the rain any more."

Leanne Halls-Albutt's son, Ruben, was laid to rest at the cemetery in 2020

Parents have praised the work done by individual staff who work at the cemetery.

Kayleigh Jade, whose son Roman's grave is there, said staff were "amazing."

However, they are calling on the authority to consider more drainage work to prevent the flooding.

A spokesperson for Walsall Council told the BBC that the authority invested £200,000 to improve drainage, which should ensure water drained without causing lasting damage.

Conservative councillor Gary Flint, portfolio holder for health and wellbeing, said: “My deepest sympathies go out to the parents affected by the torrential rain we had on Monday evening.

"Please be reassured that we had staff on site first thing on Tuesday morning to ensure no graves had been damaged and we are keeping a close eye on the situation."

Families of babies buried at North Walsall Cemetery say plots are often waterlogged after heavy rain

Labour councillor Matt Ward, the leader of the opposition group on Walsall Council, met parents at the cemetery this week.

He told the BBC he had asked the authority for clarification on how the money spent on drainage improvements was used and he supported the call for greater investment.

"Clearly that has not gone far enough, more needs to be done. We live in a wet country, but you don't expect to come to a child's grave and see it flooded.

"These families have been through enough, without the added stress of not being able to come comfortably to the grave to grieve for their lost child."

Parents are calling on the council to consider more drainage work to prevent flooding

Jessica Lymn visits her son Finnley's grave regularly with her other children. She explained how his plot has been impacted by rainfall.

"It was like a swimming pool. The grass becomes sludge.

"Our eight-year-old is sliding around in his wellies. It's unbearable. You can't reach to tend to your baby's grave. I just feel really sorry for all the parents. "