BURNLEY Crematorium bosses have no "immediate" plans to follow Blackburn in storing bodies for up to 24 hours to save energy.

Bosses of Pleasington Crematorium in Blackburn have been criticised for the new policy which will see bodies cremated in groups of three, one-by-one.

The policy has been adopted following new national guidelines issued to crematoriums.

But a spokesman for Burnley Council said: "Our policy is to carry out cremations on the same day as the funeral service. There are no immediate plans to change this.

"We are aware of the guidance which has been issued but are not intending to change our policy because of this."

Accrington Crematorium will also be ignoring the new guidelines, Hyndburn Council bosses said.

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council has launched the controversial policy today with a pledge to families that their loved ones will "continue to be treated with dignity and care".

Previously at Pleasington Crematorium, bodies were cremated within an hour of the service, according to funeral directors.

There are about 1,600 cremations at the venue a year, an average of about four a day.

A letter to funeral directors from crematorium service manager Michael Ince said that written consent from the dead person's family would be obtained for any body held overnight.

He also writes that "no more than three coffins" will be carried over to be cremated the following day.

Mr Ince said in the letter: "The effect of this practice will be to improve our efficiency in terms of saving fuel costs, reducing our environmental impact and cutting down on staff overtime.

"Consultations have taken place with representatives of the Church of England, Roman Catholic, non-conformist, Hindu and Sikh faiths and also with non-religious representatives. No objections have been raised.

"All bodies retained at the crematorium will be accommodated in secure and sanitary conditions within the building."

But Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans, whose constituents use Pleasington Crem-atorium in Blackburn, said it was "disrespectful".

He said: "They should absolutely be cremated after the service. It is a stressful and sad time.

"If people aren't cremated after the service it is quite undignified.

"They should have respect and diligence for the dead.

"If they don't have enough furnaces they should invest in them people pay enough for funerals these days.

"Leaving bodies hanging around is not dignified. There are ways to do these things, we can save money on all sorts of things but not on the dead."