ALSAGER people face having nowhere to bury their relatives by the year 2002 because of a shortage of space for graves.

Burial space for Alsager residents at the town's Christ Church is expected to run out in three years' time, and there are no plans to expand the cemetery.

Borough councillors are being warned if the council wants to continue its policy of local burial provision suitable land in Alsager needs to be found urgently.

The council agreed in 1990 to support the provision of a new cemetery to meet the future needs of the people of Alsager and the surrounding area.

At that stage the life span of the Christ Church cemetery was estimated at eight to nine years.

In 1997 the borough's death rate was 9.8 per cent for every 1,000 people, compared with 10.8 per cent for Odd Rode and 10.5 per cent in Alsager.

The churchyard at All Saints Church, Odd Rode, is expected to be full by 2003, although the church has identified land for expansion.

A borough council officer said it was unclear if the expansion could be achieved without external funding and added: "If the council intends to continue its policy of local burial provision the process to identify suitable land for a new Alsager cemetery needs to start urgently."

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