Grave offense as death warning is posted...at a Scottish cemetery

A CHURCH congregation is in uproar after power bosses put up signs warning of "danger of death" - in a graveyard.

Politicians yesterday branded the signs in Bettyhill Cemetery in Farr, Sutherland, as "insensitive" and "utterly ridiculous".

Power firm Scottish and Southern Energy agreed the warnings could cause distress - but said they were bound by health and safety rules to put them up.

The yellow signs have been pinned to the power cable pole in the middle of the graveyard.

They warn: "Danger of death - keep off." To further illustrate the point, they show a silhouette of a corpse being electrocuted.

Msp Rob Gibson said: "It really is utterly ridiculous and insensitive. SSE need to redesign signs for such sensitive sites.

"People can get the message of the dangers of electricity without such a blatant sign and image in a cemetery."

Councillor Linda Munro, who lives four miles from the graveyard, called for the signs to be removed.

She said: "They are insensitive and some people will find them distressing. I would call for them to be taken down.

"Some people will see the lighter side but this is bureaucracy gone mad. They could particularly upset the bereaved at the graveside."

Interim moderator the Rev Leslie Goskirk said: "It is insensitive. I just wonder if they knew what they were doing?" But a spokeswoman for SSE said: "We have to warn of the dangers of electricity and these are standard signs.

"We are obliged to make people aware. But I understand why people say they are insensitive in this situation."

The cable supplies power to the old St Columba's parish church of Farr - now the Strathnaver Museum - built in 1774. The surrounding cemetery is still used as the graveyard for the area.