CONCERNS have been raised over charges relating to the transfer of grave ownership details by the borough council.

One man contacted the Guardian after he was told he would have to pay £20 to update the information at the council's insistence.

The bereavement services department is currently conducting a review of all grave plots across the town to ensure the memorials on them are safe and stable, and do not pose a risk to the public. As part of this study, the council is urging everyone who has family buried here to ensure the ownership details are correct but say that there will be a charge due to the large amount of work involved.

Angela Dunn, the council's bereavement services officer, said: "As part of our drive to improve standards across all our cemeteries, we have introduced procedures for dealing with the transfer of burial rights to further protect the rights of grave owners. We have spent a great deal of time ensuring we do things the right way and have reviewed the procedure in co-operation with the council's legal services.

"New staff are assisting with the work generated by these procedures, which are vital if we are to ensure the grave owner's rights are protected and our records are up to date so that we can contact families if necessary.

"If anyone has any worries or needs to discuss any issues surrounding burial rights, we are more than happy to answer their questions. We have a leaflet explaining the procedure which is freely available and people can contact bereavement services department on 267731 between 9am and 5pm."