THE number of people allowed to attend funerals has been increased, with Thurrock council now allowing up to ten people to come together for a funeral in a cemetery.

The number is less than is being allowed at crematoriums and cemeteries in neighbouring boroughs, where 25 people can now attend.

Thurrock does not have its own crematorium and residents can choose between Corbets Tey in Upminster in Bowers Gifford in Basildon where the numbers of mourners has been increased this week in line with a relaxation in government guidelines.

Burials at the same venues also can have up to 25 mourners and numbers have also been increased at other regional cemeteries.

However, Thurrock is restricting the number of people who can attend interments at its five cemeteries to ten, though it has not explained why locally the number of mourners is still restricted to such a low number.

You can find out more about borough burial services here.

In Havering, its council leader Damian White, explained why they have upped the numbers, saying: "We know that the changes to the number of mourners able to attend the funerals of loved ones and friends will bring much comfort.

"We are still in the middle of a difficult time with the Coivid-19 pandemic but as we continue to move forward slowly again, there are opportunities to start getting many of our services running as near to normal as possible."

From Monday, 15 June, following the latest government guidance, places of worship will be able to re-open for individual prayer whilst ensuring social distancing guidelines are in place.

• LAST year Thurrock Council came under fire for the poor state of cemeteries across the borough. You can read about residents' concerns here.