A grieving father cannot visit his son’s grave because of a new cemetery gate system, his daughter has claimed.

Barking and Dagenham Post: The gate which is causing problems for Timothy WigmoreThe gate which is causing problems for Timothy Wigmore (Image: Archant)

Jodie Wigmore, of Pavet Close, Dagenham, regularly tends to the grave of her brother John who died from a sudden brain haemorrhage last year, aged 47.

The family use a Royal Association for Disability Rights key to access Eastbrookend Cemetery, in Dagenham Road, but Jodie claims the keyhole is too low for her arthritic dad Timothy, 68, to operate.

“I’m very upset and angry because we can’t get near him [my brother],” Jodie, 44, said.

“It’s bad enough having to look at a headstone but right now we can’t even do that.

Barking and Dagenham Post: John Wigmore died last yearJohn Wigmore died last year (Image: Archant)

“We’re dealing with all the pain of losing him and now all this – it’s terrible.”

The mum-of-one, who suffers with mobility problems herself, was in hospital when John died suddenly at his home in Hunsdon Close, Dagenham, on December 6.

“He had spoke to my son that morning asking if I needed anything,” Jodie recalled.

“He died in his flat that afternoon. We didn’t have chance to say goodbye then and now we can’t even visit.”

A spokesman for Barking and Dagenham Council said the matter was being looked into.

“The reason for locking the gate is to prevent cars from driving into the cemetery as they cause damage to the grass verges and sometimes drive over the graves,” he said.

“We are sorry to hear that the locked gates are proving difficult for some people and we are looking into this.”