A FLOCK of sheep in a village churchyard have angered a grieving son by repeatedly eating flowers laid on the grave of his recently-buried mother.

Kenneth Daniel, 51, from Northallerton, said his mother, Ann Veronica Daniel, was buried in the graveyard in St Michael’s Church in Well, near Bedale, last month after having lived in the village for about 50 years.

The sheep have been used to control the grass at the churchyard for many years.

But Mr Daniel said it is disrespectful that about 30 of the animals are now allowed to roam the churchyard.

He said: “I do not object to there being sheep in the churchyard. But there has only been about six in the past.

“Flowers would be removed to stop the sheep eating them and replaced later.”