Mourners paid for distant burials

Mourners are being paid to bury their loved ones elsewhere by a council which has run out of graveyard space.

Tower Hamlets council in east London is giving people £225 towards the cost of burying relatives in neighbouring boroughs Newham or Redbridge.

A spokeswoman said: "Unfortunately residents already have to bury their relatives outside the borough, but this will help cover extra costs involved."

All London's graveyard space is expected to be filled within 11 years.

'Difficult time'

A burial costs a total of about £900 in Tower Hamlets but other boroughs impose extra charges for non-residents.

Council deputy leader Sirajul Islam said he hoped the plan would "make a real difference to local people, their loved-ones and families at what can be a difficult time".

The council said it was a "bridging move" while it tried to develop new burial facilities in the borough.

Tower Hamlets Cemetery, the last active cemetery in the borough, was closed in 1966 when it was deemed to be full.

Last year the government said all UK graveyard space would be filled within 30 years.

It gave councils permission to re-use existing graves that were at least 100 years old, although Tower Hamlets said it did not plan to do so.

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