CONSTRUCTION work on Maldon's new crematorium has been completed with the first funerals to be held on site later this year.

Maldon Fields, which will serve Maldon and the surrounding areas, will hold its first funerals in December.

Plans for the new crematorium opposite St Margaret’s Church were approved by the district council back in February 2023.

Construction began back in January and is now complete, with work underway to decorate the chapel.

Richard Evans, managing director of Maldon Fields, said: "I am sure that the extra time and the tranquil setting will result in families feeling more assured about funeral services.

"This crematorium will be much quieter, providing space and time for people to gather together to mourn someone they have loved and hold a dignified, personal event."

Maldon Fields is expected to relieve the pressure on Chelmsford, Colchester, and Basildon crematoria by providing more time for families to hold services.

There will be a minimum of an hour allocated for each funeral to ensure there is no overlap, with the crematorium expected to hold three or four funerals each day.

Philip Pennack, from Chelmsford's longest-running firm of funeral directors, T Pennack and Sons, has welcomed the arrival of Maldon Fields.

He said: "We have been serving the Chelmsford area for seven generations and feel it is time for a new choice.

"From what I have seen, it will be in a quiet and beautiful setting, and I am sure that bereaved families will draw some comfort from the surrounding countryside and views across to the waters of Maldon.

"The extra time allowed should also ensure that each funeral has the place to themselves, with families able to have an individual service of their design."

Olivia Rudgley, manager of AG Smith & Bakers Funeral Service in Maldon, another long-established firm, also welcomed the new crematorium.

She said: "We have seen bereaved families choosing a direct or unattended service at the crematorium because they have been put off by the long journeys and how busy these places have become.

"I am sure that a new crematorium will allow something which is more personal and in a beautiful, quiet spot.

"The funeral service is an essential part of the grieving process in my view."