FIVE Culcheth pensioners work the 'graveyard shift' at Newchurch but they would not have it any other way.

John Southern, aged 92, Allan Thompson, aged 88, Bill Grimshaw, aged 80, Keith Hardman, aged 76, and Ken Platt, aged 68, have earned their retirement with more than 400 years between them.

But the group of friends have ditched their easy chairs to tend to the cemetery every week.

They volunteer on most Saturdays and other week days to mow the grass around the graves, cut the hedges and straighten the headstones while talking about old times.

Ken, who lives with his wife Margaret in Lansdowne, said: "You have these shows on TV where people retrace their roots and it's like that being with them.

"I'm privileged to be among them when they're talking about the people who used to live here.

"They know everyone who is buried at the church and who was related to who. You don't need Google when you're with them."

John, Allan and Bill, who was the church's organist for more than 50 years, all have relatives in the graveyard themselves.

"I'll be going there if there's any more room when it's my time," said Ken.

"John's wife is in the graveyard too. He's 92 and he's still doing his bit. It's his main interest in life and it keeps him active which is important. He's an incredible fella.

"Allan uses a mobility scooter and still scrapes the grass off the flagstones and cuts the hedges."

Ken, who has lived in Culcheth for 25 years, added: "We're all villagers and it's important to us to keep the churchyard looking tidy. We take pride in it.

"We have a cup of coffee afterwards – sometimes with a little drop of rum in it – and have a good old chat.

"We have a good fellowship together laughing and joking. It's smashing."