Pet cemetery is up for UK award

Pets are laid to rest with "respect and dignity"

The owners of a Flintshire pet cemetery say they have been shortlisted for the Cemetery of the Year Awards.

Pet Funeral Services in Brynford, near Holywell, is thought to be the only business catering for pets among the finalists, and was chosen because of its attention to fine detail.

Animal lovers John and Terri Ward set up the business 17 years ago.

Pets arrive at the cemetery in a Rolls-Royce hearse before an Anglican priest delivers a farewell prayer.

Mr Ward, 61, said he was informed earlier this week that his business had been shortlisted.

He said: "I'm very pleased. It's quite an accolade.

"Of course, we'll be up against human cemeteries, and until a couple of years ago, it was only open to them.

The cemetery was founded 17 years ago

"We first entered the contest in 2004, and we were shortlisted then and got a little trophy. Maybe this time we could be in for a win."

Mr Ward's premises includes a chapel, tea rooms, a visitor centre and seven-and-a-half acres of landscaped gardens.

Services are conducted by the Revered James Thompson, a former animal rights activist.

A spokeswoman for the Memorial Awareness Board, which organises the contest, said those shortlisted businesses would be notified in writing soon.