BODIES are to be stored for up to 24 hours so they can be cremated in groups of three one-by-one to save energy costs.

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council has launched the controversial new policy today with a pledge to families that their loved ones will 'continue to be treated with dignity and care'.

But the move at Pleasington Crematorium, Blackburn, has been branded a 'disrespectful and undignified' way of saving money on the dead' by an MP.

And a funeral director has said the plan was not nice at all' and would be difficult to explain to families.

The policy has been adopted following new national guidelines issued to crematoriums.

However other crematoriums in East Lancashire at Accrington and Burnley will be keeping to existing arrangements and ignoring the guidelines after their councils said they had no plans to change.

Previously at Pleasington Crematorium, bodies were cremated within an hour of the service, according to funeral directors.

There are around 1,600 cremations at the venue a year, an average of around four a day.

A letter to funeral directors from crematorium service manager Michael Ince said that written consent from the dead person's family would be obtained for any body held overnight.

He also writes that no more than three coffins' will be carried over to be cremated the following day.

Mr Ince said in the letter: "The effect of this practice will be to improve our efficiency in terms of saving fuel costs, reducing our environmental impact and cutting down on staff overtime.

"Consultations have taken place with representatives of the Church of England, Roman Catholic, non-conformist, Hindu and Sikh faiths and also with non-religous representatives. No objections have been raised.

"All bodies retained at the crematorium will be accommodated in secure and sanitary conditions within the building."

But Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans, whose constituents use Pleasington Crematorium in Blackburn, said it was disrespectful'.

He said: "They should absolutely be cremated after the service. It is a stressful and sad time.

"If people aren't cremated after the service it is quite undignified.

"They should have respect and diligence for the dead.

"If they don't have enough furnaces they should invest in them people pay enough for funerals these days.

"Leaving bodies hanging around is not dignified. There are ways to do these things, we can save money on sorts of things but not on the dead."

Peter Andrew, of Blackburn Funeral Service, said the burden was falling on funeral directors to get the forms signed by people to say they understood that the cremation would take place within 24 hours of the body arriving at the crematorium.

He said: "It is very difficult to explain to a grieving family that their mother, father, of whoever could be left there overnight, with other bodies, before they are cremated the next day.

"Then they will come back the next day, when there are enough bodies and cremate them. It is not nice at all."

Mr Andrew is planning to call a meeting of fellow funeral directors to discuss the change, which has been made following revisions to the Federation of Burial and Cremation Authorities code of practice.

Canon Jude Harrison of St Alban's RC Church, Larkhill, Blackburn said: "From everyone's point of view losing on overtime should not be the issue. It is an understanding and belief there is closure on the day of the service.

"This is a very sensitive area, and many people might wonder if there is any point saving money there."

Duncan McCallum, the federation's secretary, confirmed that Blackburn with Darwen council, as a member authority, was acting within the code's guidelines.

He said: "I don't think Blackburn with Darwen has been excessive.

"I am certainly aware of some authorities, which are not members of ours, which hold coffins for up to 72 hours".

Coun Alan Cottam, executive member for regeneration at the council, said he wanted to reassure families that their loved ones would continue to be treated with "dignity and care".

He said: "We thought very carefully before introducing this policy.

"Not only is this better for the environment, but it enables us to keep down the cost of a cremation, ensuring that an additional burden is not placed on grieving families."