THE saga of Radcliffe Crematorium looks set to continue after the global funeral firm whose application was rejected last year called for a public inquiry.

Service Corporation International (SCI) has lodged an appeal against a decision made by Bury planning bosses to reject their £1.5 million scheme to develop the Cemetery Road site.

CSI spokesman Chris Johns said: "We are appealling on the basis that Bury Council encouraged us to tender for the contract and gave outline planning permission for the land in 1997."

Nearby residents had vigorously opposed the application on the grounds of traffic, access, the effect on the environment and the general inappropriateness of having a crematorium so close to a residential area.

They said processions of funeral corteges along Greenbank Road would also have a detrimental effect on local housing, trees and wildlife as well as causing emotional distress to those living nearby.