A NEW cemetery could be opened in Huddersfield to overcome a critical lack of burial space.

Kirklees Council officials are set to launch a search for a site capable of providing spaces for years to come.

Green Belt land cannot be ruled out.

A plan to expand the council-run Slaithwaite graveyard by 500 spaces is also being investigated.

Steve Noble, the council's assistant environment director, said: "The position regarding burial space is getting critical."

Officers are taking action after a report revealed there was no space for an extension at Lockwood cemetery and that access was bad at Lowerhouses.

Expansion at Almondbury graveyard has been ruled out because of "excessive cost".

The Examiner revealed last year how space was only available at Edgerton because many graves had been allocated to take more than one body.

Officials admit in their latest report that council-run burial grounds are in a poor state of repair and unattractive to visitors.

"They are not exploited as places of peace and relaxation and are generally unwelcoming," the report added.

About 500 new spaces could be created at Slaithwaite, enough for 42 years.

The report said: "Remodelling is planned for Slaithwaite to produce an example of what burial grounds should look like and the standard to which they should be maintained."

About 4,000 people die in Kirklees each year. Some 80% are cremated and 20% buried.

Kirklees said last week that it wants to make massive improvements to Huddersfield crematorium and build a new one in Dewsbury.