A WEBCAM service that allows mourners to watch funerals from the comfort of their own homes has not been used once since the idea was first mooted a year ago.

Despite the fact there has not been a single request to stream a funeral in Worcester’s crematorium live over the internet, the cost of the service is set to go up by £10 as the city council seeks to reduce the amount it spends subsidising funeral and cremation services.

The webcam scheme is currently offered at £40 and is billed as a way of letting people who cannot get to funerals watch the service as it happens or at another time by downloading a file.

Services can also be recorded for the mourning party to keep if they so wish. It got the backing of the church last year but as nobody has asked to use the service the city council has held off spending £1,500 installing the equipment.

A city council spokesman said: “The crematorium has fast broadband installed in there and we can get it all set up should we ever get a request for it but there’s not much point spending that money, especially if nobody uses it in the next two or three years.”

The spokesman insisted that service provider Wesley Music can install the high definition webcams and associated equipment quickly and easily should someone request it.

“We are ready to go if we need to,” she said.

Every week about four or five services across the country are broadcast using webcams and Wesley Music insists it is secure.

The main mourning party is issued with a code a few days before the service is due to take place and they are then able to pass the details on to those who want to watch online.

During the service, the cameras – one providing a general view and another focused on the speaker – are operated by buttons.

As well as being streamed live, the service can stay online for seven days.

It is taken down once the main mourning party says so.