PARISH councillors in Bradford on Tone have agreed to pick up the tab for helping to maintain the village churchyard.

Councillors were told Somerset Council had stopped a grant toward the upkeep of the St Giles Church graveyard because it was going through a financial crisis and struggling to avoid bankruptcy.

They recognised it was ‘an important space at the heart of the village’ used by a lot of local people as a place in which to walk.

Councillors agreed to a grant of £500 toward its upkeep, replacing the £420 which had previously been given by the unitary authority.

They also approved up to £150 for repairs to the village’s historic clock, which dates to at least 1720 and was last restored in 2001.

Parish clerk Joy Norris was asked to find out how much was left to be raised for the repairs and award up to the amount approved.