AT least Colchester is the cheapest place for something - even if it is dying.

According to figures from the Royal London National Funeral Cost Index, the town has the lowest average price for a burial - at £3,651.

The most expensive area of the county is Basildon, with an average cost of £4,250.

Braintree returned a figure of £3,656 while the average cost of a plot in Chelmsford is £3,786.

The average cost in Weeley is £3,794.

Statistics were released as the rising cost of funerals are leaving many families in debt.

Figures show one in four people get into debt by paying for a funeral while one in four have had to borrow money from family or friends. 

But one funeral director is aiming to cut costs even more. 

Lee Jaschok, owner of Colchester-based Freedom Funerals, said: “A loved one passing away is traumatic enough for all of us let alone the rising costs of funerals giving a funeral burden that people cannot afford.

"I could see the pain this was causing people and wanted to be able to offer a service delivered with the same care and attention to make sure people are not priced out of having the freedom to choose the funeral they want.”

He added: "People want to give their loved ones a ‘good send-off’ and because of this they refuse to look around for the best price when there is always more affordable options available to you wherever you live.”