TWO widows have blasted a church for allowing a wedding reception to take place just metres away from their husbands’ graves.

Guests at the service on Saturday danced to Anarchy in the UK by the Sex Pistols while six nearby stones were sealed off and a portable toilet generator placed next to them.

Angry relatives of two people laid to rest at St Deiniol’s Church, Worthenbury, near Wrexham, were “hurt and disgusted” by the party.

But village vicar the Rev Adrian Copping said he was prepared to take on board any issues and raise them at the next parish meeting.

Doris Bevin and Pauline Lewis, whose husbands are buried at the grounds, said the fact they weren’t informed added to their upset.

Doris’s son Neil has set up an online petition calling for the church not to allow such “insensitive” events to take place in the future. It has already gathered 72 signatures.

Neil said his stepfather’s stone was “taped off like a crime scene” while revellers danced, smoked and used portable toilets nearby.

“This has caused great stress to the families, especially my mother who, along with the other families involved, were neither consulted nor informed about this,” he said.

Doris said: “I am extremely hurt and disgusted by this. The first I knew about it was when I saw the marquee, so I called the church warden and asked what was going on.”

Mr Copping said: “After the extension was done we were asked whether we would consider using the land for wedding receptions. It was something we took on board and discussed at the parochial church council.

“We thought it would be a really positive thing to do as it would allow us to reach out to people in the community. We have already held village fêtes and children’s activities there.”