WORK is about to get underway to create hundreds of extra burial spaces at Gornal Wood Cemetery.

Space for an additional 410 graves will be created by the landscaping work, which is due to start next Monday (September 20).

The work is expected to take up to eight weeks and will cost £128,000.

Council chiefs hope the land will be available for use by early next year.

Councillor Simon Phipps, cabinet member for regeneration and enterprise, said: "Gornal Wood Cemetery is a much requested location for families to have their loved ones laid to rest.

"It is important to ensure that we can provide burial space at the cemetery for as long as possible and utilise as much of the existing land for further grave spaces."

The project will be discussed at the next meeting of cabinet, which takes place on Thursday September 23 from 6pm in Committee Room 2 at Dudley Council House.