The photograph, which was taken in a graveyard in Otley, near Leeds, shows a group of people standing in a green area surrounded by headstones, while smoke billows out from an area in front of them.

A Yorkshire Post reader, who wished to remain anonymous, discovered the scene while walking through the churchyard after attending the Otley Food and Drink Festival this weekend.

The reader contacted the paper and explained he had been taking a shortcut through the Parish Church grounds at the time of the incident. He said: “A lovely afternoon spent at the Otley food and drink festival, followed by a meander home through the Parish Church grounds.

Sign up to our daily newsletter The i newsletter cut through the noise Sign up Thanks for signing up! Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting...

A barbecue was held on a tombstone. Picture: Yorkshire Post

“Imagine the surprise to find three adults with about seven children enjoying a barbecue.

“The cooking was being done on the raised tomb stone.” He went on to say that his wife challenged the graveyard barbecue party, but to little avail.

The man, who wished to remain anonymous, added: “My wife remonstrated with the men. The ‘Chef’ patronisingly said ‘Thank you for you input, I’ve taken note.’

“So I took a photograph! Over trots the guy in blue and demands I delete the photographs. “In any case I was taking photos of him barbecuing on a tomb in sacred ground!”