THE cost of dying has risen in Bolton -- at the same time as a leading councillor claims the state of the town's cemeteries are "disgusting".

A three-fold inflation increase in the price of burials and cremations will be imposed from April.

It will mean the cost of a new grave will rise more than six per cent, from £400 to £420, while an adult cremation will increase from £235 to £250.

But Bolton Council is adamant that the increase is not excessive.

"It will still leave us about average for the region," said deputy director of culture John Shepley.

"We do not wish to overcharge people at a sensitive time, but we do have to cover our expenses. I do not accept that people are being overcharged."

Deputy Tory leader Councillor John Walsh says this is not good enough and the service needs to be looked at.

The increase is too high and it comes at a time when a grounds maintenance cut of £27,000 in the council's budget means poorly kept cemeteries could get worse, he says.

The gardens and grass need cutting more regularly, old headstones must be made safe and footpaths have to maintained at all the town's burial grounds -- particularly Tonge, Heaton, Ridgemont and Horwich, claims the councillor.

"The maintenance of cemeteries is, quite frankly, disgusting," he said. "This is very distressing for families visiting the graves.

"It is not an area which should see a budget cut and it is very sad. Some of the old headstones are becoming unsafe, something that is not helped by vandals."

But Mr Shepley claims that the town's cemeteries are not suffering.

"They are in a reasonable condition and if anyone does have a complaint then we will have a look at it and try to solve the problem," he said. "We monitor all complaints carefully and provide a quality service."

A national study has revealed that mark-ups of more than 100 per cent are being made on funerals.

The average funeral tops £1,000, and the burial or cremation cost is just a small part of that cost.