Mourners visiting graves at Bowling Cemetery this weekend will be invited to sign a protest petition against an adjoining housing development.

Residents angry about the Victorian cemetery entrance being used as access to the new homes are launching a last-ditch bid to block the scheme. And they say they are already getting offers of support from people whose relatives are buried in the cemetery, after the Telegraph & Argus highlighted the problem on Tuesday.

The cause appeared to be lost after Bradford Council granted planning permission to Brunel Housing for the 21 'starter' type homes a year ago.

But it emerged this week that Brunel had failed to obtain the correct listed building consent when it demolished part of the cemetery wall - and must now apply again to Bradford Council.

Protesters intend to mount a determined campaign to preserve the cemetery and force the developer to find a different means of access to the site. Alec Firth, a leading member of the Burras Road and Thirley Road Residents' Association which has spearheaded the campaign, said: "After the article went in the T & A, people were ringing me up from all over Bradford, complaining about what's being done at the cemetery."

A spokesman for Brunel Housing said: "We were unaware that the listing extended to the boundary walls, which have no architectural merit. We have now been advised that technically a listed building consent may be required. We are confident the scheme will enhance the area."

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