Around £177,000 has been spent by councils across the Black Country and Staffordshire in the last five years, paying for funerals for people whose service cannot be paid for.

Authorities have had to pay in 414 cases where relatives either cannot, or will not, pay, or in situations where the deceased doesn’t have enough money in their estate nor had any loved ones to help cover the cost. There is a statutory duty for local authorities to provide a funeral service in cases where no next of kin or other relatives come forward to make the arrangements.

However, in some cases, councils claim back costs from either relatives or the deceased’s estate at a later date. The biggest payout was made in Dudley where the council has spent just short of £70,000 on 104 funerals between 2005 and 2009.

In Wolverhampton between the financial years 2004/2005 and 2008/2009 177 funerals had to be paid for at a cost of £43,252, in 40 cases because there were no family or friends.

Other reasons for funerals being paid for in the city include relatives being under 16 or people not having the deposit to pay the funeral director up front, which is an increasing problem.

Sally Owen, senior administrative officer with Wolverhampton City Council, said: “In most cases, family or friends of the deceased were traced but for a variety of reasons they were either unable to pay for the funeral or unable to arrange it.

“The deceased are afforded the same respect as anyone else as they are given a full service arranged by our partner funeral directors.”

In Sandwell the council has paid for 68 funerals at a cost of £11,738, Stafford Borough Council’s 21 funerals have cost £25,803 and in Cannock eight funerals have been paid for, costing £2,214.

In Walsall 36 funerals were paid for. Councillor Mike Flower, cabinet member for environment said: “For £900, the council provides a basic cremation, which includes the services of a vicar at Streetly Crematorium. Flowers and memorials, however, are not included.”

Dudley’s deputy council leader, Councillor Les Jones, said: “At the end of the day if a public authority has responsibility to maintain parks it certainly has a responsibility to make sure people who have passed away are given a dignified burial or cremation.”