Number of funeral services at Rotherham crematorium increased, in a bid to support grieving families

Services on Saturdays at East Herringthorpe Crematorium will be extended from 9am-5pm, and will also be available on Sundays from 10am-2.30pm.

Weekday times continue to be available from 8.15am-6.30pm.

The length of cremation services provided will now be changed to 30 minutes. Graveside burials remain unaffected.

There is still a limit of 10 attendees in place at funerals, and the two-metre rule must be observed.

A Rotherham Council spokesman said: “We know how difficult it can be to not attend a loved one’s service.

“This may be because a person is shielding or displaying symptoms of Covid-19, or the maximum 10 persons has been reached.

“To enable as many people as possible to be part of the service, a live webcast of the service is being offered.

“We hope this will go some way to supporting people to properly grieve.

"In order to reflect the reduction in service time, the fee for the cremation service has been reduced and there is no additional fee charged for the webcast."

The council has worked in partnership with other local authorities in South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw to launch a listening ear service, providing free counselling for people who have lost loved ones during the pandemic.

The service is accessed through a free call and will allow the bereaved to talk to a trained therapist who will be able to offer emotional health and wellbeing support.

Anyone wishing to use the service should call 0800 048 5224 or visit listening-ear.co.uk/refer

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