FAMILIES in parts of the North West are paying hundreds of pounds more to cremate or bury their loved ones than others, new figures show.

Research shows funeral costs in Burnley are the most expensive in the region.

People living in the town will fork out an average of £3,940 this year, with a burial costing the highest at £4,645 and a cremation being £3,234.

That compares to Accrington - which was the second cheapest in the region, with the average cost of a funeral in the town being £3,468.

Bolton was the third cheapest in the region, with the average cost of a funeral in the town being £3,483.

The region is the fifth highest in the country for funeral costs, with families paying £3,671 on average, according to the research from life, pensions and investment company Royal London.

In the UK, the average cost of a funeral has risen from £3,758 last year to £3,785 this year.

Royal London’s funeral cost expert Louise Eaton-Terry, said: “As bereaved families continue to take on thousands of pounds of debt to pay for their loved ones’ funerals, support from the state remains woefully inadequate."

The government says that the Social Fund Funeral Expenses Payments scheme makes a significant contribution towards a funeral, meeting the necessary costs of a cremation or burial.

Take a look at the list below for funeral costs in your area.

You can view the full list here. https://bit.ly/2lY1pfn

Location Burial Cremation Average

Burnley £4,645 £3,234 £3,940

Chorley £3,910 £3,451 £3,681

Bury £3,851 £3,451 £3,651

Altrincham £4,088 £3,182 £3,635

Blackburn £4,038 £3,202 £3,620

Oldham £3,988 £3,184 £3,586

Bolton £3,753 £3,212 £3,483

Accrington £3,838 £3,097 £3,468