A council has apologised after one of its workers was seen smoking a cigarette while sitting on a gravestone.
The grass-cutter was taking a break from duty at Brumby Cemetery in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, earlier this week.
A passer by saw the man sitting on the stone and took a photo, Grimsby Telegraph reports.
The local resident who witnessed it claimed they felt the worker showed a lack of respect for the dead.
They felt the actions were also disrespectful to the bereaved families.
The witness said they felt it was "one step too far" to see someone who "should know better" sat smoking on a headstone.
North Lincolnshire Council has apologised and moved to reassure mourners that council teams are respectful when working in the cemetery.
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It said sorry for the distress caused but maintained that its teams are working to look after the graveyard.
A spokesperson for North Lincolnshire Council said in a statement: “We would like to apologise for any distress this may have caused.
"The maintenance teams take great pride in the work they do and uphold very high standards.
“The teams are, at all times, respectful while working hard to provide a fitting environment to enable people to pay their respects to lost loved ones."
The council added that it felt it was a one-off.
“We would like to assure people this is not normal practice and council procedures have been invoked,” it added.
