A BURIAL ground prepared by Stanway Parish Council has been opened.

The one-acre site, in Church Lane, is on land donated by a resident who wants to remain anonymous.

Gates, a wall and a car park for the site cost £40,000.

It was opened by parish council chairman Colin Sykes.

Colin Lax, chairman of the burial grounds committee, said the burial ground will be a good investment.

He said: “Residents paid for it through the parish’s annual precept.

“Any income we get will be deducted from future precepts, so people will get their money back later on.”

The site has 176 burial plots and 200 cremation plots.

Mr Lax said the parish church had four burials a year on average.

Any residents or former residents of the parish and people with parents in the parish are eligible to be buried at the site.