A FORMER Dartmoor Prison worker has set up a new business providing an unusual but rewarding service.

Paul Smith-Wightman had to leave the prison service in 2004 after sustaining a back injury, and spent three years recovering from an operation.

Paul, from Plymouth, had been out of work for five years following the injury, and in 2007 he started a foundation degree in archaeology.

He said: 'I did this to get my brain working, and to build some self-confidence from being unable to work for a long period.

'I recently graduated from the two-year course and began to think about a career again, what can I do at 38 years old in a very difficult economic climate with very high unemployment?'

A grave digger friend of Paul's told him people were always asking him if he could clean and maintain their loved ones' graves.

At that point Paul began to think this service might be needed in Devon and Cornwall.

Paul said: 'After many visits to cemeteries it became evident that all had varying percentages of graves that were unattended and in terrible conditions, with uncut grass, weeds, dirty unreadable headstones, moss-covered stone chippings, and dead flowers in a dirty memorial vase.

'This is in contrast to many countries around the world who take a great deal of pride in the appearance of their cemeteries — I observed this on a holiday in Switzerland when I discovered a large cemetery just outside Interlaken. It was pristine with manicured greenery, clean, polished headstones, and abundant with fresh flowers and alpine plants, it was a peaceful haven.

'I returned home and decided to try and offer a service to people, churches and cemeteries to maintain graves and memorial plots to the same standard of excellence.'

Paul has recently completed many jobs around West Devon, including at St Michael du Rupe in Brentor, and at Whitchurch and Tavistock cemeteries.

He offers a number of services, including cleaning and polishing headstones, cutting and edging grass, and leaving a bunch of fresh seasonal flowers.

For more information call Paul on 01752 849929 or 07795573140.

Paul is pictured right at work on one of the gravestones.