Funeral costs in Kent are to rise next month as two crematoriums are "reluctantly" introducing a new charge to help cover their rising energy bills.

Charing Crematorium near Ashford and Barham Crematorium near Canterbury, which are owned by the same company, are bringing in a new energy surcharge from October 1.

It means families planning funerals will soon have to pay an extra £24 on top of other service costs which will specifically go towards the facilities energy bills.

Bosses at the Westerleigh Group, which runs the sites, say it was a difficult decision to make, and hope the changes will only be temporary.

In a statement on behalf of Charing Crematorium, operations director Ed Lane said: “Up until now, Charing Crematorium has absorbed additional costs as a result of the huge increases in energy prices which are affecting the whole of the UK.

“It is becoming increasingly difficult to continue doing this without compromising on the high standards and exceptional levels of care we are known for.

“As a result, and with great reluctance, we have made a difficult decision to introduce a temporary energy surcharge of £24 per service from October 1 which will go some way towards our increasing energy costs.

“We are incredibly conscious of the financial strain many families are facing at the moment and will regularly review the need for the surcharge with the intention of removing it as soon as we can.

“Other operators, both local authority and private providers, have increased their prices multiple times this year already, however, we are currently the only provider to be introducing energy surcharge on a temporary basis.”

The charges are being introduced at all 37 of Westerleigh Group's cemeteries and crematoria across England, Scotland and Wales.