THE cost of a funeral is set to rocket after an inflation busting six per cent price hike for burials and cremations was agreed by councillors.

And it will also cost Bolton businesses more to dump their commercial waste at council-owned sites from next month by around twice the rate of inflation.

The cost of other council-based services, including school meals, market rents and leisure and sport facilities, will rise from April by an "average" of three per cent, which is in line with inflation.

But the council says that in certain circumstances, the three per cent increase charges may be inappropriate although no individual charge will be increased by more than five per cent.

However, burial, cremation and commercial waste service costs will rise by six per cent: around twice the rate of inflation.

Bolton Council's commercial services department said no further costs will be put in place without approval.

The six per cent rise was put forward when council budgets for the financial year were set. The three and six per cent rises were agreed by councillors at a direct services meeting on Friday.