FUNERAL directors have branded new council guidelines asking them to weigh bodies as insensitive and unworkable.

The change is included in regulations issued to funeral directors and others who use Burnley Crematorium, setting out things such as the maximum size of coffins.

More controversially, and for the first time, the guidelines, set out in a letter issued last week, also instruct funeral directors to calculate the weight of the deceased.

If bodies weigh over 19 stone, cremations will be limited to early in the day to meet environmental guidelines.

Council bosses said larger bodies burn too fast later in the day when crematorium furnaces become hotter, creating too much ash.

William Smith, funeral service manager at L Champ Ltd in Clayton-le-Moors and secretary of the Burnley and Pendle Funeral Directors, said he was astounded at the council request. He said: "This is despicable and is taking away the dignity of clients.

"We have never before been asked to weigh clients and it is very insensitive, quite apart from having all sorts of practical implications.

"How exactly are we supposed to weigh clients. Do we buy special equipment or do we just guess?

"We deal with cremations at Accrington, Blackburn and Burnley but Burnley are the only council to have asked us to start weighing clients. It is ridiculous and I for one won't be doing it."

Mr Smith, whose company has been in the business for 21 years, said he would be writing to Burnley Council setting out his concerns.

Keith Lawson, company director at Helliwells, based in Nelson and Colne, said: "This is completely unworkable. The council are asking us to either ask questions of families about weight of loved ones which are very insensitive, or take measures which are just impractical."

The letter, from Simon Goff, head of greenspaces and amenities, reads: "As well as exceeding the maximum coffin size, weight of the deceased has to be calculated before a cremation time can be confirmed and it is advisable that if this is to exceed 19 stone, then we will only be able to offer a 9.30am cremation time if there are already six bookings or more on the day and date you require.

"If there are very few cremation bookings on the day and date you require, then an alternative time can be arranged."

The council said that on less busy days, when the furnaces take longer to heat up, alternative times could be arranged slightly later than 9.30am but before the furnaces became too hot.

The average number of cremations a day is 10.

Christabel Hilliard, welfare officer for national bereavement support group Cruse, said: "The size of bodies is an increasing issue and we can see both sides in this case, although we haven't heard of this particular problem anywhere else."

A council spokesman said: "The purpose of our advice is to ensure the council is able to provide a high standard of service to bereaved families and to comply with the requirements of the Environmental Protection Act.

"The guidance follows advice given to the council by the company that installed and maintains the cremators.

"Council Bereavement Services have not received any complaints or comments from undertakers regarding the guidance, but will explain the issue to any that do."