A CAFE event that aims to get people to talk openly about death is coming to Colne later this month.

The death cafe phenomenon has seen events spread up across the world, but this is the first time it has come to Lancashire.

The organiser of the Colne death cafe, embalmer and funeral director Geoff Cheesman, said he hoped the event would see the taboo subject of death broken down.

“Death is considered a taboo subject,” he said. “The British mentality is not to talk about it and we shy away from conversations about death. It is not a counselling session, this is why it is being held in an upbeat location. It’s a chance for people to talk about any aspect of death.”

The first death cafe was held in East London in 2011 and since then 300 death cafes have been held, attended by more than 3,000 participants in Europe, North America and Australasia.

Mr Cheesman, who works in Colne, said: “In my job you experience people talking about death on a regular basis and it is difficult.

“You go to speak to people about funeral arrangements and they don’t know what to do because it was never discussed.

“The event can be good for people who have experienced a death, or for relatives or friends of people who are ill, or people who are ill themselves, and even people who are just curious and want to talk about it.

“We are hoping to provide an environment when people can come to the event and talk openly and comfortably about the subject of death.”

The death cafe is being held on Tuesday, November 26. at the Green Chimney bistro, in Albert Road, Colne, from 7pm,