A TORFAEN church has decided to take an unusual and organic approach to clear up its overgrown graveyard by using goats.

St Peter's Church in Blaenavon has struggled to maintain its cemetery for years as it relies on volunteers and relatives of the people buried there to look after it.

But now Reverend Rufus Noy has employed an Abersychan farmer to bring his South American goats on the site to eat the overgrowth.

Rev Noy said: “It takes a lot of effort to maintain the graveyard to a high standard and many people don’t realise that. "Unlike in England, graveyards are not the responsibility of the local council so it’s down to us to find volunteers, the difference between us and the church in England is an unfortunate anomaly from the 1920s.

“We have struggled for too many years in fighting the worsening state of the graveyard and although a lot of people won’t know this, but bringing animals to eat the grass has happened before, as I believe we had horses doing a similar job in the early 1980s.”

Nick Prewett-King and his wife Sally took half a dozen of their South American goats up to the graveyard for the second time on Friday after the first session the week before.

They were ready to go on Thursday but the wet weather meant they had to wait until the sun came out.

Mr Prewett-King, of The Firs, Waterworks Lane, said: “The goats won’t eat any grass that’s been contaminated with fertiliser so the overgrowth and brambles in the graveyard, because they are natural and organic, are perfect for the goats and they just go mad for it.

“Because of the climate they are used to, the weather has to be just right for them to be happy to be outside and eat so we had to wait a day but it’s excellent for them and really supplements their diet around the oats, wheat and berries we give them.”

While there has already been significant improvements to the site because of the goats, it is expected to take around three to four months of regular visits before the graveyard starts looking pristine again.

Rev Noy added: “It’s a great idea as we both benefit from it, anything that can help with the overgrowth is good as its hard work.

“Because we are a closed burial site and many of the graves date a long way back, very few have relatives which visit, although when they do they often ask why it’s not maintained but it is down to them.”