WEBCASTS of burials and cremations will soon be shown on the internet as Bournemouth council aims to enhance the service it offers the bereaved.

Bournemouth's bereavement service was recently awarded a gold standard from the Charter for the Bereaved for its excellent work and is keen to deliver further improvements.

The webcasting of a service would only be available for family and friends on request, who will be given a password in order to access the website. There will be a charge of £30 for using this facility.

Linda Barker, bereavement manager at Bournemouth council, said: “Being able to view a webcast of a burial or cremation of a loved one can offer people a great deal of comfort if they are unable to attend the actual ceremony.

“We continually strive to improve the service and this year has also seen an online booking system to give funeral directors 24/7 access to our cremation diary 365 days a year.”