Dignity Funerals Ltd - one of the country's biggest private funeral operators - is expected to start work on the £3 million scheme later this summer.

The company has signed a deal with Rotherham Council to take over the running of the East Herringthorpe crematorium and the authority's nine cemeteries in a deal believed to be the first of its kind in the UK.

The company is also planning a new state-of-the-art bereavement administration centre, landscaped memorial gardens, and a 120-space car park at the crematorium.

It says it will also improve the cemeteries - East Herringthorpe, Greasbrough, Maltby, Masbrough, Moorgate, High Street, Greasbrough Lane at Rawmarsh, Haugh Road at Rawmarsh, and Wath.

Dignity will also be responsible for planning future burial requirements of the town's increasingly diverse communities. Funerals will be arranged to avoid conflict with the refurbishment work which will only be carried out while the crematorium is closed to the public.

Dignity's contract with Rotherham Council will run for 35 years.

Jahangir Akhtar, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Adult Services, said: "This is an innovative public private partnership that will improve and enhance the high standards that have been provided by the authority over the years.

"A great deal of work is due to be carried out at the crematorium and cemeteries across Rotherham but customers can be assured that they will not experience any deterioration in service quality during the construction phase.

"The current short notice burial facility will also continue to be available during this period, with appropriate measures taken to minimise impact on those attending the burial."

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