CONGESTION at a town crematorium has prompted councillors to make mourners wait an extra ten minutes to say farewell to their loved ones.

But Hyndburn Council has been accused of introducing a "catch thi' death" tax after agreeing to charge people more while they wait out in the cold.

Members of Hyndburn Council were told that there is sometimes congestion involving mourners leaving Accrington Cremation in Burnley Road and those arriving for the next one.

They decided to make the service 40 minutes long instead of 30 -- but it will cost more. A cremation including use of the chapel goes up from £199 to £223.

Councillors were told the cremation service was non-profit making and the price had to rise to compensate for the reduction in services.

Labour leader Ian Ormerod said people risked getting a chill if they were made to wait longer: "They'll still spend 20 minutes out in the cold before they get into the chapel. It's a 'catch thi' death' tax."

Council officers reported that a good bereavement service "contributes to the quality of life for residents." They carried out a nine-month review and found that the number of grieving people using it meant there was sometimes congestion.

"The situation is not helped by the common entrance and exit door to the crematorium chapel, and problems can be made worse when there are large numbers of mourners attending a service who inevitably take longer to disperse afterwards," the officers told councillors.

They added that a 40-minute service time would not be a complete solution, but it would give mourners more time to get away before the next funeral cortege arrived.

The council's cabinet took their advice and approved the introduction of the 40-minute cremation services.

Council leader Peter Britcliffe said: "It's horrific to have people queuing when they are in great distress. We want to provide a dignified service, not some sort of conveyor belt system."

Funeral directors themselves came up with the idea of the longer service, which reduces the number each day from 12 to 10, starting at 9am. The last service will start at 3pm, with no break for lunch.

In Blackburn, cremation services last 30 minutes with a cost of £236.