Families who have memorials at crematoria run by the Westerleigh Group are being offered an extra year free of charge.

The goodwill gesture recognises the fact that restrictions placed on people because of the Covid-19 pandemic have meant people have been unable to visit the memorials to their loved ones for many months.

In the South West, the offer is available at North Wiltshire, Sedgemoor, Test Valley, Torbay, Treswithian Downs, Wessex Vale, West Wiltshire and Westerleigh (near Bristol) crematoria.

Roger Mclaughlan, Chief Executive Officer of the Westerleigh Group, said: “Throughout all the lockdown restrictions, our dedicated grounds teams have continued to maintain our gardens to the highest standards.

“But we know that, during the pandemic, the government restrictions have meant that many people have been unable to visit memorials of their loved ones as they would have wished to.

“Not being able to mark an important date or anniversary by visiting the resting place would have been upsetting for many people.

“Through providing an additional year to the length of existing memorial dedications at our crematorium, we are aiming to extend the precious opportunity of remembering a loved one.

“We hope that this will provide some comfort to the families we support, and we very much look forward to welcoming them back to our gardens as soon as they’re ready to do so.”

Anyone interested in finding out more about the offer should contact their local Westerleigh Group crematorium office.

Westerleigh Group is the UK’s largest independent owner and operator of crematoria, with 35 sites nationwide. The offer excludes Stirlingshire Crematorium and Sirhowy Valley Crematorium.