A VOLUNTEER churchyard group received a surprise after its compost bags were used to create a bed… on a nearby building’s roof.

The Friends of St Katherine’s Group, who work at the cemetery in Canvey Road, spotted that eight bags of compost were missing from its yard on Friday.

Members of the group feared that thieves had struck and stolen the bags.

After purchasing new bags and getting to work to tidy up the churchyard, eagle-eyed chairman, Dave Blackwell, spotted bags on the flat roof of the nearby Heritage Centre.

Upon inspection, Mr Blackwell says the bags were laid flat to make a bed, and that a blanket was left on the roof which gave the game away.

He said: “I couldn’t believe it really, it seems so ironic to pick a churchyard of all places.

“We all can’t work out how the bags managed to get up there in the first place. It was only when we were working I turned around and notice the flat roof on the Heritage Centre had some stuff on there.

“So that’s when we climbed up to have a look. Long-term I think we are going to have a look at getting cameras put in.

“The quality of them are good now, and it means we can keep an eye on what’s going on when we’re not there.”

Volunteers have been meeting every Friday since August to tidy up the overgrown graveyard, in Canvey Road, after relatives with loved ones buried there complained about long grass and rubbish

Initial fears the bags were stolen came as the group reported a large wooden flower box being swiped from the cemetery in May.

The trough was donated by one of the group’s members.

Earlier this year, blundering council contractors cut down an array of spring bulbs, bluebells and snowdrops planted last autumn.

The flowers were removed by Pinnacle, a company employed by Castle Point Council.

Mr Blackwell said that the company is now working with volunteers to rectify the damage.

Rosemary de Boise, secretary of the Heritage Centre, says she is disappointed that the building’s roof is being used, and is stepping up security.

She said: “It’s dist8urbing and sad really, particularly if it’s being used by somebody who is homeless.

“But that said, we can’t have people using the roof like that, and we’ll be talking with the police to see if we can get some spikes in there. We just don’t want any trouble.”