MUSLIM volunteers in Bolton are helping to conduct burials on a daily basis – some within hours of someone dying.

Here we speak to those on the frontline as the battle against Covid-19 takes its toll.

In Islamic culture the burial must take place within the shortest period of time. In the majority of cases burials have taken place within 24 hours. In some incidents people are being buried within four hours of death.

Bolton and Blackburn have had the most Muslim burials in the past year. There were approximately 290 Muslims buried in Bolton compared to 116 a year before.

In Blackburn during 2020 there were 279 burials within the Muslim section, up from 171 a year before. The cemetery as a whole saw total burials rise from 396 to 577. November remains the most tragic month with 53 buried in the Muslim section.

In Preston the burial society told us there had 72 burials conducted in the Muslim section of the New Hall Lane Cemetery compared to 52 a year before.

This increase in deaths due to the pandemic has put extra strains on volunteers who aim to conduct burials in a shortest time possible.

But we found teams and cemetery staff working round the clock to ensure the bereaved are not inconvenienced.

Bolton Council of Mosques (BCom) is responsible for the burial of Muslims in the town.

During the pandemic's first wave there were 84 deaths, of which 30 were classed as Covid-related. In the second wave October, the numbers rose to 95 with 39 due to Covid.

The highest number of deaths in any one day was seven and the burials took place over a couple of days.

BCom secretary Imteyaz Ali said, “We have around 30 male and female regular volunteers who take on the roles of conducting of the ghusl (washing of the body), drivers and cemetery cleaning among other roles.

“They are on call throughout the day. We also have two volunteers who attend the hospital.

“Their role is to provide support and communication between patients and families. They also aim to ease patient anxiety and help in any way they can and support them at this most difficult of times.”

BCom works closely with Bolton Council and cemetery staff.

Mr Ali said: “The council has co-operated with us and provide round the clock care for us to carry out the funerals to the best of our ability and as smoothly as possible.

“If there any concerns they have they are addressed straight away.

“This has even been the case when burials have taken place within two hours of death. This takes a great level of correspondence between different departments.

“We cannot thank our male and female volunteers enough and we are grateful to them.

“You have to remember this is all about ensuring there is no pressure on the bereaved and for us to lesson the burden as much as we can.”

Government guidelines have put extra pressure on the work of all those involved in burials from all communities.

Mr Ali hopes the government can reconsider cemetery attendance if the pandemic rules are to be relaxed, given the strength of feeling among the bereaved.

He added: "Grieving in my opinion comes in three parts. Remembrance. Paying your respects and sharing that grief with the family.

“Despite our feelings, all our teams both and male female have ensured we keep to restrictions.

“Our advice has always been be safe take care, wear a mask and listen to the government guidelines.”

“We request prayers for everyone who is suffering at these challenging times. We will continue to support everyone in anyway we can."