New conditions have been added to the pre-purchase of graves at Sandbach Cemetery.

Under the new rules, approved at a cabinet meeting today (February 2), residents will be unable to pre-purchase a grave at a cemetery with less than 20 years worth of grave supply remaining — unless there is "medical evidence of a grave needing to be used within a year".

"In Cheshire East, we have 11 cemeteries. There's enough capacity overall for 30 years but individual cemeteries will run out of space before this," Cllr Jill Rhodes, CEC's portfolio holder for health, told the meeting.

She added: "The policy will stop all pre-purchasing of graves with cemeteries with less than 20 years of supply.

"It does allow pre-purchasing where there is medical evidence of a grave needing to be used within a year.

"This policy will become more effective as time goes by."

Sandbach is among only two cemeteries affected across the borough, with only eight years of capacity remaining.

Also affected by the change is Weston cemetery with 19 years worth of capacity.

Elsewhere, Alderley Edge has 55 years of estimated capacity, Congleton 88, Crewe's Meadow Brook has 175, Macclesfield has 56, Nantwich has 24, and Wilmslow has 28.

The changes will only affect council-run cemeteries, not those operated by churches, or town or parish councils.