LEWISHAM is the most expensive place in London for a person to be buried, a study has revealed.

According to research by Avalon Funeral Plans, the cost of burying someone in the borough is £1,082, which is the third most costly area in England.

The study looked into the costs of 255 local authorities with Staffordshire the most expensive place for an interment at £1,270, more than 25 times the £50 charged for a burial in Leicestershire.

Greenwich came 40th in the research with the cost of a basic burial at £638.

Nicki Dunphy, from William Dunphy Independent Funeral Directors in Brockley Road, said: “More people have chosen cremation than before. I think the price is a lot to do with it and it’s now more culturally acceptable.”

Avalon says the cost of burying a loved one has increased in London because of a lack of space.

Managing director at Avalon, Mike Cooper, said: “As space dwindles and fees grow, the number of burials is expected to decrease rapidly.

“It seems dying has become a very expensive business.”

He added: “Whilst the traditional funeral is still part of our cultural fabric, burials are now out of reach for many of the population.

“It’s no surprise cremation is by far the most popular choice for funerals.”

Mr Cooper says 72 per cent of the 600,000 people who die every year are cremated and only 28 per cent are buried.

A Lewisham spokesman said: "These figures are not comparable. Some relate only to digging fees whilst others are based on differing lease periods for burial space."