ANIMAL lovers who cannot bear to be separated from their four-legged friends - even in death - could soon have their last wishes granted.

People devoted to their pets have been able to bury their faithful companions with fitting dignity at the county's first ever pet crematorium in Glazebrook.

Now for the first time they are being given the opportunity, in the event of their own demise, to be buried just yards away from their dear, departed cat or dog.

An extension is being planned by David Duxbury, the owner of the Cheshire Pets Crematorium, so he can manage human and animal internments in tandem.

The prospective cemeteries, with owners and pets strictly in separate plots, will transform a stretch of redundant agricultural land, close to the Glazebrook Lane development, if councillors give the imaginative proposals their backing.

Mr Duxbury told the GUARDIAN: "Hopefully when it is completed it should be quite a nice area.

"We think that the demand is there if the whole thing is done properly.

"We have over the years been asked about human burials, not in the same grave, but perhaps in the same cemetery.

"A good deal of work needs to be done to the land to make sure it is a peaceful setting, such as tree planting."

Mr Duxbury, who has run a pets graveyard in Leyland for more than eight years, is not anticipating any strong opposition from fellow villagers.

Currently the crematorium, which can deal with everything from dogs and cats to goldfish and snakes, offers short graveside services for their pet clients.

But it is expected that the arrangements for the owners' funerals will still probably be handled by the town's established firms of undertakers.

The farewell service has been up-and-running for nearly 12 months and the response from Warrington animal-lovers has prompted the expansion submissions.

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