THE cost of dying in Burnley could rise by 25 per cent from April.

Council finance chiefs are proposing the hike in cemetery fees to boost income by £25,000.

An officer's report says councillors expressed concern that the rise may bring a boycott from users who could resist such a hefty increase.

Councillors also pointed out that previous rises have not brought in the expected extra income.

But the parks service manager has advised that the charges are not excessive and the fact that fewer people have used the service reflected a reduction in the death rate and a growing preference for cremation.

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