THE exhumations that started taking place at St Lawrence's Church last week have caused quite a stir within the local community.

The issue has now also been covered by BBC London News with a two-minute clip being broadcast yesterday evening (July 4) at 6pm.

BBC Journalist Tara Welsh spoke with local resident, Paul Velluet, who's had many of his ancestors buried in the church yard.

Paul said: "My grandmother was born and bred around here, and her parents and their parents lived around here.

"At least eight of my great grandparents and their parents are buried here in what's called the 'new burial ground', attached to the old church yard, attached in turn to the medieval church."

David Shailes from Brentford Voice spoke about Lieutenant Merrick Prismall who died during World War One in 1916.

David said: "He's buried with his younger brother who died 10 years earlier and it's a family grave.

"That's what the family wanted, they didn't want him in a war grave in some unknown cemetery, which is where he's off to, he's going to end up in Brookwood (Surrey)."

The majority of the exhumations are deemed to be necessary in preparation for the seven-storey block of flats that will be erected, which will incorporate 18 apartments.

A spokesperson for Ballymore said: "We have undertaken a significant notification process ahead of beginning these works.

"The exhumations are necessary to bring forward the approved planning permission, the legislation stipulates that all bodies within the new graveyard are to be moved as part of the process.

"Those families who have come forward and requested their ancestors are reburied elsewhere are being accommodated.

"All remaining bodies will be moved and reinterred at Brookwood Cemetery in Surrey.

"As part of the wider transformation of Brentford's town centre and high street, the deconsecrated St Lawrence's Church will be sensitively restored, with plans for it to become a community hub and space to host pop-ups, events and shows.

"The gardens of the church will also be reimagined as a new landscaped space for residents and locals."