Portable toilets have been installed in the Muslim section of Blackburn cemetery.

The toilets are located near to the prayer hall at Pleasington Cemetery where the final funeral prayers (janazah) are conducted. Blackburn with Darwen Council said they had been installed following requests from burial volunteers and are expected to be in place for around six months.

According to Islamic tradition burials must take place as soon as possible after someone dies. On some days there have been four burials taking place on one day conducted by volunteers from the community. Some of these have taken place under floodlight.

The new unit consists of three toilets and is opened by security staff at 8am each day and closed at the end of the day when the cemetery gates are locked. They are open to all members of the public.

They will be cleaned daily but users are asked to keep them clean and tidy for other people.

No more than 30 people can attend a funeral ceremony, whether indoors or outdoors. This number does not include anyone working at the event.

The actual number of people able to attend can depend on how many people can be safely accommodated within the venue with social distancing, and where the funeral venue manager has carried out a risk assessment and taken all reasonable measures to limit the risk of transmission of COVID-19.