Doncaster crematorium named among UK's busiest

The latest available statistics show that there were more than 2,500 cremations at Rose Hill during 2017 '“ making it the 27th busiest out of 290 crematoriums from across the country.

The crematorium was the busiest in South Yorkshire '“ with more deaths handled at the premises than crematoria in Sheffield, Barnsley and Rotherham.

The figures, prepared by funeral specialists Urns For Ashes, showed that 2,550 cremations took place at Rose Hill during 2017, a 0.87% increase on the 2016 figure of 2,528.

It put Doncaster far ahead of the national average for cremations '“ which was 1,607.

In total, there were more than 467,000 cremations at the UK's 290 crematoria during 2017.

The study also found that Doncaster is one of the cheapest places in South Yorkshire to die '“ with the average cremation fee £715. Only Barnsley was cheaper at £707 while in neighbouring Rotherham the cost was £943.

Sheffield, which has three crematoriums '“ City Road, Hutcliffe Wood and Grenoside '“ all recorded figures more expensive than Doncaster.

Locally, Barnsley saw the biggest increase in cremations '“ with nearly 10% more in the town during 2017 than the previous year.

Rotherham saw a decrease in the number of people cremated from 1,978 to 1,913.

A spokesman for Urns for Ashes said: "The cremation rate has picked up in the last 10 years, along with the price.

'This, we believe is in part to the rising cost of funerals. It is becoming a lot more expensive to bury the deceased and this has caused a rise in not just normal cremations, but also cheaper cremation services including direct cremations.

'Direct cremations are services that exclude everything that isn't essential. No service, no funeral director, no flowers, no family or friends at the cremation"