Dartmouth has been accused of neglecting the graves of its war heroes.

Up to 22 war graves in the town's Longcross Cemetery, dating from the First and Second World Wars, are not been looked after properly – even though the Commonwealth War Graves Commission shells out each year to help pay for the work, a town councillor has said.

Now former RAF Group Captain Robin Springett is pressing for a whole series of improvements to the council-owned cemetery – including more care for the memorials to the town's war dead.

He told town councillors: 'There are 37 war graves in Longcross Cemetery, of which the 22 in the in-use part of the cemetery are maintained directly by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission contractor to the required standard.The remaining 15 are neglected, despite the town council receiving £90 per annum towards their upkeep.'

Cllr Springett pointed out that the 15, which are in various locations in the older part of the cemetery, include six dating from the Second World War and nine from the First World War.

And he said the state of the graves was particularly important bearing in mind that next year will see the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War.

Cllr Springett said he had discovered the condition of the neglected war graves after he researched the number of them in the cemetery in the run up to next year's anniversary.

And he said he also wants to see the council look towards a long-term management plan.

In his report to the town's corporate properly committee, he said that the council needs to identify the 15 war graves and arrange with the current grass-cutting contractor to maintain them to 'the appropriate standard'.

And he said the council also needs to look at restoring the memorial garden 'by repairing the paving, replanting and repair or replace the benches'.

His report pointed out: 'Longcross Cemetery is an asset to Dartmouth and in particular, Townstal, where open space is at a premium.

'However, it has for a long time been managed solely with economy in mind – the result being that it is now no longer attractive or welcoming over the great part of its area.

'A long-term management plan should be put in place to sensitively manage the whole of the cemetery with the Living Churchyards and Cemeteries Scheme in mind.'

He told councillors that a representative from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission was planning to come to Dartmouth to talk to the council about the upkeep of the cemetery war graves.

And he said it was planned to have talks with the contractor who looks after the cemetery about the current grass-cutting regime.