PARENTS whose children die before their 16th birthday will be able to have their bodies or ashes buried without charge in High Wycombe cemetery, if district councillors give the go-ahead.

The proposal, by the High Wycombe Town Committee, would be paid for out of the High Wycombe special expenses and would add an average of 9p a week to council tax.

Free burial will be restricted to children whose parents, parent or guardian live in the unparished area of the town.

Everyone else will pay the full rate.

The proposal needs to be approved by Wycombe district council's policy and resources committee. Councillors at the town committee said it should be made clear that this didn't mean the whole funeral would be free just the interment.

But the district council's parks and environment manager James Porter said funeral directors would make this point.

He said: "They are very sympathetic people and very skilled at putting these policies across at a time of grieving."

If the free burial is agreed, High Wycombe will be a front runner in offering it and the only authority in the county to do so.

The new service will apply throughout Wycombe cemetery.