A City Council has announced that burial space in the Muslim section of a cemetery is almost full.

Handsworth cemetery which is based in Birmingham currently has fewer than 15 graves available in its Muslim section and less than 70 available for other religions.

While this will not affect graves which have already been reserved, it is anticipated that the cemetery will be full to the Muslim community within a fortnight and to other communities within the next two to three months.

In September 2018, the local authority made 12,000 new burial spaces available at Sutton New Hall which, is also located in North Birmingham, with further provision available to extend the cemetery by another 18 acres in future years as the need arises.

Cllr Sharon Thompson, cabinet member for homes and neighbourhoods said, “The impact of Covid-19 has meant that burial space at Handsworth Cemetery has been used at a faster rate than we would have previously anticipated. 

“However, we’ve planned for the time the cemetery at Handsworth would reach its capacity.

"The investment at Sutton New Hall is significant and will provide sufficient burial land in Birmingham for the next 18 years for those communities who wish to be buried in that part of the city.

"It has been designed to meet the needs of all communities that wish to be buried at Sutton New Hall Cemetery and can accommodate people from all faiths, as well as different types of graves to meet customers’ wishes.”