A VILLAGE church's members are appealing to visitors to dispose of rubbish more carefully, in a bid to cut clean-up costs.

Parishioners of St James the Great in Flockton are fed up with household rubbish being dumped in an area designated for biodegradable garden waste.

Assistant curate the Rev Laurie Brookes said that unless the practice stops, visitors to the churchyard may be asked to take their rubbish home with them, as the church is struggling to find the cash to pay for the rubbish to be removed.

"We are a small congregation and it is difficult for us to meet the running costs of the church, which are around £330 per week.

"The extra burden of having to pay for rubbish skips to remove unwanted waste is crippling."

Mr Brookes said there was a walled area where people could leave biodegradable cuttings after tidying up family graves.

But recently, household rubbish, newspapers, magazines - and even old shoes - have been thrown into the composting area.

Mr Brookes added: "It would be a shame to close the garden waste area. I hope people will heed the notices to take home their flower wrappings, plastic and glass bottles, as well as any other rubbish."

The church is also appealing to parishioners and other villagers for donations and subscriptions to help towards maintaining the churchyard.

Anyone who can help should phone Mr Brookes on 01924 848177.