Funeral services restart at fire-hit crematorium

Funeral services can return to a crematorium, three weeks after it was damaged by fire.

Thorncliffe Crematorium in Barrow, Cumbria, was shut on 26 March after its roof was damaged in an accidental blaze.

Westmorland and Furness Council confirmed the facility would reopen for services in its chapel on 15 April, though it did not know when cremations would resume on site.

"This will depend on the outcome of ongoing engineering assessments and the scope of works advised by technical specialists over the coming days," a council spokesman said.

Cremations will be carried out in Lancaster and Beetham until the crematorium in Barrow can fully reopen.

The council said it had carried out assessments to understand the cause of the fire and ensure the building's safety.

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