Cost of dying going up again in Walsall

Walsall Council is also looking to raise more money from other bereavement services including providing light refreshments at Streetly Crematorium.

The authority also wants to bring in £10,000 by offering a wider range of memorials.

It comes as council chiefs bid to make £25 million in cuts and savings in 2016/17.

Mourners could face the increase in burial and cremation charges from April next year if the proposals are approved by council chiefs.

At the moment it costs £1,815 for an exclusive right of burial at the cemeteries in Bentley, Bloxwich, James Bridge, North Walsall, Ryecroft, Streetly and Willenhall.

But bosses are proposing the fee is increased by three per cent, which works out as £1,870.

While cremation charges would increase by 10 per cent which could see the fee for an over-17 rise from £657 to £723.

The council also believes it can bring in £1,000 a year by offering visitors refreshments at Streetly crematorium.

Walsall's community, leisure and culture chief, Councillor Anthony Harris said: "This is one of numerous measures that the council is considering to balance the budget for 2016/17.

"The proposed fee increases although regretful will keep Walsall Council broadly in line with neighbouring Black Country local authorities and reflect the investment required to maintain the appropriate standards.

"We will continue to improve our facilities as we have done at Streetly and are now actively looking to extend Willenhall Lawn Cemetery to create additional burial space."

Earlier this year, opening hours were extended at Streetly Cemetery to allow for 10 extra burials a week and for funerals to take place on bank holidays.

The extended service ran at the site in Little Hardwick Road between April and September following requests from people across the borough.