Several members said they were ­disgusted to see the state of the cemetery in which their loved ones lie.

And they called on Maitland City Council to tidy it up.

Council blamed the recent wet weather and a peak growing season which had interrupted its mowing schedule.

And they pledged to return the cemetery to normal schedule quickly.

Kylie Olariaga, whose grandparents, great-aunts and uncles and great grandparents are interned at the cemetery, said she and her family took great care maintaining the graves of their loved ones but it made her sad to see the state of other graves, particularly older ones, where family were obviously unable to attend.

"Who is responsible for these plots if they no longer have family members to care for them?" Mrs Olariaga asked. 

"It's a lack of respect. Definitely."

Her sentiments were echoed by Kym Gibbs, of Rutherford.

“I have family buried here and a lot of friends,” Ms Gibbs said.

“It is terrible that weeds are allowed to grow here like this.”

Sisters Leesa and Christy Taylor said they were appalled to see the overgrowth.

“It is disgraceful that weeds are growing up so high,” Leesa said.

“Council needs to come down here and see what has happened - and mow the grass.”

Amanda Mosman said her grandfather and an uncle were buried there .

“It is heartbreaking for me to see the place like this,” she said.

Isabel Farley spoke to councillors about the weeds.

“I broke down crying with the way things were,” she said.

Kathleen Lyons has a daughter and a son buried in the cemetery.

“My 16-year-old son is here and my daughter,” she said. “It was so bad I was pulling grass out from around their headstones with my hands.”

The group said they paid thousands of dollars to have loved buried there.

“Council contractors have a full mowing program to maintain local cemeteries,” council infrastructure and building services manager Graeme Matthews said.

“The recent wet weather and peak growing season has had an impact on the mowing schedule.

“However, contractors are making very good progress in returning to the normal schedule.”

He said East Maitland Cemetery was due to be maintained this week, with contractors on site from Tuesday, March 24 through to Friday, March 27.