Funerals at a crematorium will be broadcast live online for family and friends who are unable to attend the service in person.

Vinters Park Crematorium in Maidstone is introducing the service to allow invited guests to view funeral services from anywhere in the world, from over the internet.

As part of the service, which can be arranged through selected funeral directors, relatives can also help produce a visual life tribute and add an extra personal touch.

This includes adding a combination of family photos and video of loved ones to chosen music from the council's media library to play on screens both in the service hall and vestibule area.

The start-of-the-art system, which is run via a secure portal, provides video and audio playback, recording and live webcasting facilities to cover up to 60 services a week at the crematorium.

Sharon Smith, bereavement services manager at Maidstone Borough Council, said: “For a growing number of reasons, live webcasting is a service that more and more are choosing.

"With an aging population, elderly family members homebound or restricted to nursing facilities, those who are simply not able to travel due to economic conditions or perhaps family who live abroad, offering webcasting is a way to include everyone regardless of their geographic location.

“Many people ask for personal choices when arranging a loved ones funeral.

"As funerals become more personal and unique, families are opting for intimate favourite songs, often choosing light-hearted or humorous music to reflect a loved one’s personality.”

Using a music library, which covers all music styles and genres, the family can select tunes for an appropriate track through the crematorium's Wesley Media System, or arrange recordings of personal performances or very old recordings.