Fire-hit crematorium to reopen after months closed

A crematorium damaged in a fire is expected to reopen at the end of September after months of closure.

Thorncliffe Crematorium in Barrow, Cumbria, closed at the end of June for its roof and chimneys to be replaced following an accidental blaze in March.

Westmorland and Furness Council, which operates the facility, initially said the works would take six to eight weeks but later said this had been delayed. It has now said it expects the site to reopen on 30 September.

The council said it was grateful for the "patience and understanding" shown by funeral directors, bereaved families and the community during the disruption caused by the "complex project".

Following the March fire, ceremonies were moved for about three weeks during emergency repair work.

Chapel-based services were carried out at the venue until the roof repair works started in June, but cremations have not been happening there since the fire.

The council said structural and electrical surveys, roof and chimney replacement works and an upgrade to the site's cremation equipment had been carried out following the fire.

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