A NEW crematorium is to host back-to-back open days later this month having recently begun serving families.

Charlton Park Crematorium opened to the public last month with its first public funeral taking place on Thursday, June 20.

Now the facility is offering people the chance to take a guided tour of the new building, with open days taking place on Saturday, July 13 and Sunday, July 14, between 10am and 4pm.

Similar tours have already been conducted for local funeral professionals to take in the £6.5m project for themselves.

Zoe McMillan, crematorium manager, said: “We have been overwhelmed by the comments from everyone who has experienced Charlton Park Crematorium.

“They’ve been particularly impressed by the care and attention to detail that has shaped both the building and how we work.”

Crematorium co-founder Catherine Powell says it was the owners’ goal to create “something that sets a new standard in care for the bereaved and the people that matter to them”.

It is hoped the facility will be a “real asset” to the community – and that includes the local wildlife.

Having retained the existing trees and the site and planted 100 new saplings, staff have discovered they are sharing the park with quail, deer, a green woodpecker and a brown owl.

For more information on the facility, go to charltonparkcrematorium.co.uk.