Families visiting graves of lost loved ones have been locked out of the car park to Bromley Hill cemetery.

Bromley Council said it has decided to close the gates because parking spaces are being used by local businesses not connected with the cemetery.

Bromley resident Pauline Robinson, whose husband and parents-in-law are buried at the cemetery, said the car showroom over the road has been using the car park as an overflow for years.

The former receptionist at Lewisham Hospital, of Burnt Ash Lane, said she has always struggled to find a car parking space at the cemetery since she lost her husband in February 2005.

The 66-year-old, who visits his grave every fortnight, said: “It is very annoying that these people make my life harder. I can’t walk as far as I could ten years ago when he died.

“I am finding this hard to take now. There is nowhere to park at all. All I want to do is pay my respects to my relations.”

Mrs Robinson’s mother and father-in-law are also buried at the cemetery.

She added: “I just want the gates open again. It really upsets me.”

Mourners are likely to find themselves with a parking ticket if they leave their cars in Bromley Hill, outside the cemetery, due to restrictions.

Councillor Colin Smith, executive councillor for environment, said the council refused to allow the cemetery to be used as an overflow car park.

He said: “Unfortunately, the parking spaces have been abused with non-cemetery related cars being parked in the cemetery for substantial periods of time, reducing the spaces for people coming to pay their respects. 

“We have been closing the gates in recent weeks to make sure that there has been enough parking space for relatives and friends actually attending funerals.”

A spokesperson for The Carsite, the showroom opposite the cemetery, said: "We have parked the odd car there for a minute while we have rearranged our cars.

"As soon as we realised that this was causing a problem and possibly causing the gates to be closed we stopped this practise immediately.

"The gates are now open and all is back to normal and has been for at least two weeks!

"As a local business we always take into consideration the local residents and we will continue to do so."