'The DIY option is not one we'd recommend'

The average cost of council cremations has gone up by more than a third in the past five years.

An adult cremation costs an average of £640, according to Freedom of Information responses from local authorities that run crematoriums in the UK.

The increases were down to councils having to invest in more capacity to take account of a rising population, as well as tougher environmental laws, said David Simmonds, deputy chairman of the Local Government Association.

“Environmental legislation means we need to invest in a lot more equipment, particularly expensive equipment that's there to filter out the mercury from older dental fixings,” said Mr Simmonds.

There were cheaper options available than standard burials or cremations, added Mr Simmonds, but he warned “the DIY option is probably not one we’d recommend”.