Easter egg hunt in graveyard CANCELLED as residents blast 'disrespectful' event

However, locals expressed concern that the event would lead the graves to be trampled on and would cause upset for the families of people buried there.

According to the event organisers, eggs were intended to be hidden among the gravestones and monuments, some of which date back more than 100 years.

Despite backlash from local residents who blasted the event as “disrespectful” and questioned why local parks were not being used instead, organisers defended the decision as they claimed it would be a chance for children’s learning.

Organisers claimed the event would be a “wonderful idea to get young people interested in local genealogy”.

They added that the area that would be used for the hunt is an area of the graveyard that was “occupied by the dead from a century ago”.

Writing underneath their Facebook poster, Friends of Wrexham Cemetary wrote: “What a wonderful idea to get young people interested in local genealogy.

“Those saying it is disrespectful and that graveyards shouldn’t be played on forget that Ruthin Road cemetery is now a playground. Part of Victoria Junior School.

“The section that will be used is occupied by the dead from a century ago and will not affect any recent internments.

“Children will undoubtedly be on the paths not climbing on graves. I am at a loss as to why anyone would be angered by children enjoying an outdoor space it should be encouraged.

“I think you should credit children more as I know of no child who would purposefully be disrespectful of a mourner.

“Some of the comments are disproportionate and assumptive. It will be fully supervised and enjoyable no doubt.

“It’s a shame some have voiced their concerns in such an aggressive way, hopefully, the replies have allayed those concerns.”

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However, they later announced on Thursday that the event would be cancelled.

“We as friends of Wrexham cemetery have had to make an emergency decision to cancel our event to safeguard the young people that were going to participate in the garden and paths of our outdoor museum,” they wrote.

Replying to the Friends of Wrexham Cemetary’s post, one local whose family is buried in the cemetery blasted the event.

Tracey Taylor wrote: “The cemetery is not a playground. In 100 years time, there will be no one left to remember.

“My Dad was buried there 12 months ago with my mum and my grandparents and my sister, aunt, uncles.

“The only ‘events’ at the cemetery are when we place our loved ones to rest, hoping that in the next part of their journey they can walk in peace.”

Another local, Paige Sykes described the chocolate hunt as “massively inappropriate”.

She said: “I completely understand having nice events on for children, however, a graveyard is not the place for it to be held.

“What about mourners going to pay respects to their families? What about children running over the graves just looking for the Easter eggs?

“It’s not a playground, nor was it ever acceptable to think that this event should happen.

“Those who have served and fought for our country are buried there, people’s mums, dads and children are buried there. Where is the respect?”

A third local, Colette Butler, wrote on Facebook: “The cemetery is NOT, I repeat NOT, an outdoor museum, it is a place where loved ones are laid to rest.

To be honest, if you think that an Easter egg hunt is acceptable then you really need to take a long hard look at yourself. Whats next, a Santa's grotto?

“People go to the cemetery to visit their loved ones and the ground is sacred. It’s blessed to be a cemetery. How dare you think this is appropriate.”

Another, Annika Jones, wrote: “This is extremely disrespectful. I can see the idea of encouraging people to visit but an Easter egg hunt is not an excuse, why not hold a day where you go into the history of it instead of kids running riot and potentially ruining people's places of rest.”

The graveyard first opened in 1876 and contains the graves of 39,000 people.