A PLAN to flatten a graveyard and turn it into a car park is to go before Bolton Council next week.

The planning application is part of a bid to convertthe former Lee Lane United Reformed Church in Horwich into flats.

The developers Tony Dixon and Diane Brooks, who bought the church in January, have told relatives to remove the headstones from the graveyard.

Relatives were furious and said they should not move the headstones until planning permission is granted.

Bolton Council intervened and the developers agreed to leave the site as it is until planners have discussed the application.

Ms Brooks said: "We will be submitting an application to the council on Monday and want to convert the church into flats with a car park.

"We will putting all our cards on the table, which include the information from the Department of Constitutional Affairs and War Graves Commission. This will show anyone who has concerns or objection what the legal situation is.

"In the meantime, we have followed the council's advice to leave the headstones in place."

Brian Smith, aged 68, of Hughes Avenue, Horwich, who visits his grandparents' grave, said: "This has given relatives a little more breathing space to try and make some alternative arrangements. We thought the 14 days the firm had given us to move the stones was unreasonable."

A council spokesman said: "We have advised the potential developers that it would be best if they do not commence any work on site until they know how the application will turn out, due to the sensitive nature of the site.

"At this stage, we do not know if moving the headstones will require planning permission and moving them without permission would result in an investigation by our planning department."