Campaigners fighting to save the derelict chapels at Dewsbury Cemetery have secured a meeting with council officials.

The historic Twin Chapels, which date back to 1859, were abandoned years ago and have fallen into disrepair.

During storms in February one of the chapels suffered further damage and workmen have removed the roof for safety reasons, raising fears that the buildings are beyond economic repair and may have to be demolished.

Campaigners are angry that Kirklees Council failed to maintain the listed buildings and left them at the mercy of vandals and the elements.

Efforts over the years by a cemetery action group to seek Lottery funding to restore the chapels came to nothing and now another group, the New Friends of Dewsbury Cemetery, has stepped in.

The Facebook-based group, which last week carried out a litter-pick at the cemetery, has finally secured face-to-face talks with council officials over the future of the chapels.

The group’s organisers, Paul Edwards and Simon Reed, will meet officers on June 5 at Dewsbury Town Hall.

Kirklees Council has previously said that work on the chapels would be carried out in consultation with the council’s heritage officers and that slates removed from the roof “will be stored for potential future restoration.”

A spokesman said the council was “keen to work with any local community group to determine a practical way forward for the chapels and the cemetery.”

A hardy band of volunteers braved a showery Sunday to collect half a dozen sacks of rubbish from the cemetery.