There are calls to scrap burial costs for all children following a national campaign.

Canterbury city councillors have already agreed fees for children under the age of 12 will be ditched from April 1, but Labour’s Rosie Duffield argues more needs to be done - especially as costs are higher to bury teenagers.

She wants the age limit lifted to anyone aged 18 or under.

She told KentOnline's sister paper the Kentish Gazette: “I welcome the news from Canterbury City Council regarding the scrapping of fees for some child burials.

“However, in my opinion, this doesn’t go far enough.

“In the Labour manifesto we promised to scrap child burial fees up to and including the age of 18 and I would like to see the city’s proposals go further than they currently do.”

Burial fees for over 12s can cost up to £862 while cremation fees are £145 plus an £82 maintenance charge.

The campaign to end the fees was started in 2016 by Swansea East MP Carolyn Harris who had to take out a loan to bury her eight-year-old son when he was knocked down and killed by a car in 1989.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has also supported the move.

He lost his seven-month-old daughter Johanna in 1983 after a car she and his wife were travelling in was involved in an accident in Paris as the family prepared to return to the UK.

The little girl, who was in a cot in the rear of the car, died five days later.

The Archbishop set up an annual service for bereaved parents following his loss.

Around 5,000 children die in the UK every year. Were the government to cover the costs it would have to find an additional £10 million per year.

Conservative Cllr Neil Baker, who represents Tankerton ward, responded to calls to scrap all charges and says the budget is in the process of being finalised.

He explained: “Officers are still looking into scrapping the fees for all child burials.

“Nobody wants to make life more difficult for grieving families at the death of a loved one, especially the death of a young person - we will see what can be done.”