TEMPERS flared as the family of people buried at St Mary’s Church in Prittlwell clashed with activists who have set up a protest camp.

Relatives who have loved ones’ ashes scattered on the grounds arrived moments before Occupy Southend activists were due to hold a meeting to vote on whether to leave the church.

Cliff Hughes, 69, from Westcliff, got into a row with the anti-capitalist activists when he arrived with wife Jacky and sister-in-law Angela Smith on Saturday.

Activists have pitched tents next to a flower-bed where the ashes of Jacky and Angela’s sister Pamela Clark were scattered when she died from ovarian cancer in 1999.

Mr Hughes told protesters to leave and repeatedly called one protester a witch.Pushing and shoving ensued before tempers settled down.

He said: “I would not be against them if they had good reason to be here, but they are standing on a place where people are buried, which is very disrespectful.

“I think the group has got it all wrong.

“A church burial ground is something that must be respected.”

After hearing activists would move from the church in Victoria Avenue, but not by yesterday’s 3pm deadline, Mr Hughes said he was pleased but sceptical.

He said: “They say they will be going in a few days to a new site, but I will not believe any of it until I have seen they have gone.”

Jim Curtis, 65, of East Street, Southend, came to see the meeting to voice his disapproval of the camp being set up. Mr Curtis, who got married in the church in 1976 and still attends services there, welcomed the fact activists had agreed to move.

He said: “Having spoken to them since I arrived here, I have found Occupy Southend to be quite reasonable people. I think it is a good decision they have made.”

Sunday services went ahead despite the tents being pitched in the graveyard.

The two morning and one evening communion, held at the church, happened as planned one week after Occupy Southend moved on to the site.

Church members welcomed the news protesters had agreed to move over the next few days. But they felt the protesters should have never been there in the first place.

Rev Shaun Conlon made a brief statement to the congregation before the 9.30am service.

He said: “The Chelmsford Diocese has been very supportive in helping the church deal with the protesters and with all media enquiries.”