Her experience has led to calls for the whole community to get tough on rubbish dumping and on those who cause the mess.

Elizabeth Astle, 75, found five bags strewn around Gildersome Cemetery when she went to leave flowers at the memorial to her husband, Ronald.

An angry Mrs Astle said: "It is just not on, people have no consideration!

"I am very upset and have been on to the council several times because I think it is disgusting for someone to dump this rubbish."

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Her son, Andrew, who had taken her to lay flowers at the graveyard, said: "We thought at first the council had been in litter-picking, but we then found the bags contained household rubbish.

"Whether the person whose rubbish this is dumped it, or someone has dragged it there to cause trouble, I don't know, but it's a problem that needs nipping in the bud.

"It will become a dumping ground if people see others have left it a mess, and it needs stopping."

Mrs Astle, of Moorland Close, was widowed just over two years ago and said that although this was the first time such a large amount of refuse had been dumped in the graveyard, she was often upset by the numbers of dog walkers who use it but who do not clean up after their animals.

She said: "It is very important to me and my family and I want people to know what people will stoop so low to do."

Coun Robert Finnigan has appealed for the whole community to do their bit to combat litter and dumping.

He said: "We have argued for a while there has to be a partnership and that the community has a role in tackling this as well as the council.

"A lot of people have the view that it is someone else's job but if that is the case we are never going to deal with the problem because we are never going to have 24-hour rubbish picking.

"So if you see rubbish on the floor, pick it up, and if anyone knows who is dumping rubbish let me know and we will make sure they are prosecuted."

He added that where council enforcement officers find rubbish bags that have been dumped they do go through them to find evidence of where they came from and will, where appropriate, prosecute.

"But this issue needs a community effort and genuine partnership across the board," he said.

Vicar of the neighbouring St Peter's Church, the Rev Canon Felicity Lawson, made her own appeal for people to respect the sanctity of the graveyard and the memories of those buried there.

She said: "I know an awful lot of people who bring flowers and it is a very important area for the people of Gildersome.

"I do think it is very important that it is open and well used but that those who use it respect the memories of those who are buried there."

The bags were finally removed by workmen as they prepared for a funeral at the graveyard which is overseen by Leeds City Council.

There are signs asking dog owners to pick up after their animals but there are no permanent staff at the Church Street site.